1 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to this week's story for a Cowboy Life, the 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: podcast presented by Smoothie King Blending Goodness to Fuel your Greatness. 3 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: I'm Brady Tinker. Today's story is about a man who 4 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: played his entire NFL career as a Dallas Cowboy. Sean 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: Lee was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, into a hardworking athletic family. 6 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: His parents, Craig and Jerlyn Lee, were cut from steel 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: city cloth, hard workers, disciplined and loving. Sports were no joke. 8 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: Just like in life, you always hustle and you always 9 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: go hard. Seahn's brother was a kicker at the University 10 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: of Pittsburgh. His sister was an athlete as well. In 11 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: high school, sports were a major part of the Lee 12 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: family tree. Every single day and even from a young age, 13 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: the one thing that everyone noticed about Sean was his 14 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: uncommon focus. Just to ask his defensive coordinator at Penn 15 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: State University, Tom Brad, who recruited Sean while he was 16 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: in high school at Upper Saint Clair High School in Pittsburgh. 17 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: The one word, Sean, that was the intensity, you know, 18 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 1: and it was the whole game, like you know, from 19 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: the time the bull was tipped to the end of 20 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: the game he had, he was so intense the whole time. 21 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: You don't see that very often in these school players. 22 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: Somebody was going to keep scorer. Sean won the win. 23 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: Penn States coach Bradley saw the intensity and he loved it. 24 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: His high school coach, the legendary Jim Rerender, had a 25 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: gem on his hands, who ran the ball for him 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: on offense and hit like a hammer from the safety 27 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: position on defense. That was Coach Render's voice there at 28 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 1: the end, by the way, reminding us that intense players 29 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: always plan on winning. I think it has to do 30 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: with the way he was raised by his father, Mum. 31 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: The whole family's like that, you know, the whole intensity port. 32 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: Sean shared with me once that his focus was encouraged 33 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: from a young age. He'd get in the car after 34 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: games when he would say ten years old, and he'd 35 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: won those games, and then two heads would turn from 36 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: the front seat and incest the quote the effort and 37 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: the hustle could have been better, and then he would 38 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 1: be given specifics. Coach Bradley first saw Sean play basketball, 39 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,519 Speaker 1: and then the next night he played football for upward 40 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: Saint Clair High School and his beloved coach Jim Render. 41 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: He random ball that night about almost twenty times, and 42 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: he had like eighteen tackles on defense from his safety position. 43 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: We knew he could be a linebacker and so forth, 44 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: but at that time we wanted him coming downhill from 45 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: the safety position. If he read run, he was coming 46 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: like a freight train. So let's see, from age sixteen 47 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: or so, he was intense. He planned on always winning, 48 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: and he hit people like a runaway freight train. That 49 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: goes with everything we watched in eleven years in Dallas 50 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: for Sean Lee. That's one of the things it was 51 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: so unique about him with his anticipation skills when he 52 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: got around the ball, they were just off the charts. 53 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: There's things he could see. He was just a tremendous 54 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: football player and person and students and everything you're looking 55 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: for in a guy. And obviously, as you know, tough 56 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: as hell, hustle and intensity are two qualities that really 57 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: good football players have. When they love to win and 58 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: are tough as hell, you no doubt have a top 59 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: notch player. As you have probably surmised by now, Sean 60 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: grew up in Pittsburgh, a steel town, a close knit, 61 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: hard working town, and his home in Upper Saint Clair, Pennsylvania, 62 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: was a short thirty minute drive from hines Field, home 63 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: of the Pittsburgh Steelers, home of his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. 64 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: In grade school, Sean loved the Steelers so much he 65 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: wars your own bettist Jersey to school. Well three times 66 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: a week at recess on Fridays, he led, here we go, Steelers, 67 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: here we go, and everybody chimed in. Coach Bradley Well, 68 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: I think people you have to understand how close Uppers 69 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: and Clear is to Doubtown Pittsburgh. I guarantee you know 70 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: Sean with his family, for his father had him at 71 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: a bunch of Steeler games growing up. I was jok. 72 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Unfortunately I grew up a Steeler fan. It's kind of 73 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: like growing up in Dallas. There's no other option. If 74 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: you're raised in the bosom of Pittsburgh, it's like a 75 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: big firm hug and without a doubt you are a 76 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: Steelers fan. Now back to another coach from Penn State 77 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: who wanted to get a look at Sean Lee. Ron 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: vander Linden was the linebackers coach for Penn State. He 79 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: worked under the defensive coordinator that we've heard from Tom Bradley, 80 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: and he had an inkling that this Upper Saint Clair's 81 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: safety might have the chops to play linebacker at Penn 82 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: State Ron. So I drove to his high school and 83 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: I'm outside the coach's office watching the big screen television, 84 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: Who's Game Take, you know, just watching Sean and wait 85 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: for the game that evening, and Sean pops in and 86 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: he sits down with me. He starts talking, and he's 87 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: watching the game with me, and he starts narrating every 88 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: single play, talking about everybody on defense in the offensive tendencies. 89 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: And I could just tell, man, this guy's really into it. 90 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,159 Speaker 1: And when I watched him play that evening, he was 91 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: a safety and he was a kill back kid. He 92 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: ranned for two hundred yards against a rival high school 93 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: and on defense, boy, he'd come up and strike you. Yep. 94 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: I think his high school coach, Jim Renders said he 95 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: came downhill like a freight train from his safety position. 96 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: So Sean had summarily impressed the defensive coordinator at Penn 97 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: State and the linebacker coach, and they didn't have to 98 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: do much of a cell job on the head coach, 99 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: Joe Paterno. Everything they told him was like music to 100 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: his ears. He had a new linebacker and he came 101 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: to Penn State and freshman year was two thousand fives 102 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: and we ended up winning the Big Ten that year. 103 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: Penn State won eleven games in Shawn's freshman year and 104 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: played in a BCS Bowl game. But we'll get back 105 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,559 Speaker 1: to that, hey, Coach Bradley, Sean was a high school 106 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: safety who hit like a hammer. But you're moving him 107 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: to linebacker, right because Penn State is linebacker. You. He 108 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: was just so aggressive help from the line of scrimmage 109 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: on the play action passes, so we figured we must 110 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: have moved him there. Now things are coming together. Aggressive, 111 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: hard hitting Sean is a linebacker ed linebacker, you Ron, 112 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: what kind of impression did he make on the team. 113 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: In his freshman camp, Seawn got the nickname of FeH 114 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: Forward because every d did was full speed, and after 115 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: two days of practice I had to pull him the 116 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: sentence at Sean, I love your intensity, but you're going 117 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: to hurt somebody. He was tackling every scout teamer to 118 00:06:52,480 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: the ground. So his fresh spend years, Shawn paid his 119 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: dues until week number seven, when he was inserted in 120 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: the game as a linebacker for the first time against 121 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: the Ohio State University, a huge game, Number sixteen Penn 122 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: State versus number six Ohio State. That first taste of 123 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: big ten hitting, and it was a huge victorious. Penn 124 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: State prevailed seventeen to ten in a defensive battle to 125 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: get their record to six and zero. Seawan played more 126 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: and more the rest of that season, and in the 127 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: biggest game of them all, the BCS Orange Bowl against 128 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: Florida State, Seawan was suddenly in the game and in 129 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: the middle of the defense. People forget that marathon Orange Bowl, 130 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: that triple overtime game. Paul got hurt and Shawan had 131 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: to go in a potential national championship game and Paul 132 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: pause losing the All American and a team captain who 133 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: had one hundred and sixteen tackles on the year, leaves 134 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: the game hurt and freshman Shawn Lee is in. He's 135 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: just a freshman, dude, What will you nervous? I go now, 136 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: that's Shawn Lee, not nervous at all. You know what 137 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: he played, lakes out. It's the Orange Bowl with a 138 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: possible national championship on the line, and a freshman goes 139 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: in in quarter number three and plays every play through 140 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: a now three overtime game, a three overtime victory. Penn 141 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: State wins twenty six, twenty three, and Shanley is now 142 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: cemented as a Nitney Lions starting linebacker. Before there was 143 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: a draft, you could size up a cowboy by three 144 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 1: simple factors. The crease at his hat, the bend of 145 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't 146 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: just protect him from what life throw at him, it 147 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, 148 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: made with pride. Right here in Texas, there's still the 149 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is 150 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: proud to be on the field with America's team. Find 151 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: a retailer nearest Jewitt Stetson dot com, slash Cowboys the 152 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: Cowboys Way, where sixteen Hall of Famers and five championships 153 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: shows us what success looks like. Where Turkey is always 154 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, Where we are 155 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: all defined by one single thing, the Star, where we 156 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. 157 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: Bank of America is proud to be the official Bank 158 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of 159 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: living life the Cowboys Way copyright twenty twenty. Bank of 160 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: America Corporation. Want to use what the pros use? How 161 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 1: about the official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, 162 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: Jack Black. Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, 163 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: a curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just 164 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: ten bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack 165 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: Clack skincare favorites plus a full sized and tense therapy 166 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: lip bomb. Go to get Jack Black dot com slash 167 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: Cowboys and use the code word team JB. That's get 168 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 1: Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys the Jack Black Starter, 169 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: ten bucks, free shipping. Honey, big news scary are you? Okay? Oh? 170 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I 171 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only 172 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, 173 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: I changed my name to Jackie Okay, But the best 174 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: smartphone deals at AT AT and Tea for everyone new and 175 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: existing customers. That's huge. And guess who's getting a deal 176 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: is it Jackie Flash? Jackie Flash. It's not complicated at 177 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: AT and t Our best smartphone deals are for everyone. 178 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: Restrictions apply. Is it att dot com for details. His 179 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: sophomore season, he played every game, recording ninety tackles and 180 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: five sacks on a ranked team. His junior year, he 181 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: had one hundred and thirty eight tackles and was an 182 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: All American. His senior year never got started in two 183 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: thousand and eight, as he blew out his right knee 184 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: in spring practice. His senior year is now done. I 185 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: was in spring football going into my trust senior year. 186 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: I tore my right ahl man. Things were rolling along 187 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: so good, and then a torn ligament in his right 188 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: knee before his senior year. It sucks, but his teammates 189 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't let him be away from the team. They still 190 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: named him a team captain. Even though we couldn't play, 191 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: they did, which was unbelievable of them. And when you 192 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: get injured, your natural reaction is you're frustrated. You want 193 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: to disconnect from the team. You go from being a 194 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: huge part of the team to feeling like you're not 195 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: part of the team at all. They kept me connected, 196 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: they kept me in meetings, They allowed me to help 197 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: the young guys, and so even though I was injured, 198 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: I still was part of the team, so the team 199 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: wanted him around, not off rehabbing and disconnected from them. 200 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: And it turns out the coaches felt the same way 201 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: about Shawn's value to the team, even if he wasn't 202 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: going to be able to play. Coach Ron. Coach Paternal 203 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: had tremendous respect for Shawn, and he changed the rules 204 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: for him that when a player got hurt, they went 205 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: with the strength coach the entire practice. We see this 206 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: every year Cowboys practices. Guys that are hurt are on 207 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: the side field with medical staff and trainers at the ends, 208 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: usually of bungee cords, rehabbing their injuries, while the rest 209 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: of the team prepares for games weekend and week out 210 00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:00,959 Speaker 1: on the active fields. Here's Ron. So I had to 211 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: fight that battle with coach Paternal. He had never done that. 212 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: I said, Coach, you know Sean as a coach on 213 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: the Saale game, he's valuable to be just or a 214 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: couple of coaches, you know, old school coaches. They were 215 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: not ended that at Coach Paternal. He kind of went 216 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: against the old school method. Hegoes, yeah, I'm gonna side 217 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: with Ron, and this one follows, let's plut Sean help 218 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: help Ron coach players. I've never heard of anything like that. 219 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: Not ever, he helped me coach. I could hear him 220 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: talking to a player and telling him the same thing 221 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: I would have pulled another player, but in a different way. 222 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: I learned from Sean. How many times do you think 223 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: you would hear a coach say that he learned from 224 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,959 Speaker 1: one of his players at the D one college level, 225 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: on a team that was regularly in the national championship picture. 226 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: I think never. Sean had knee ligament issues, as we 227 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: all know, And here's something that we didn't know. You know, 228 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 1: the ligament he had was a kind of a genetic 229 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 1: I believe his sister and maybe even his father had 230 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: a similar atl injury where the ligament kind of rubbed 231 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: it a little notch on the knee. Doctor hadn't go 232 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: in and kind of file that down and then repair 233 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: the ligament. Now, Sean never shared that genetic thing with me, 234 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 1: but I guess he wouldn't. Such a hard nosed, unbelievable player, 235 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: and he was predisposed to major injuries. In my sports brain, 236 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: right now, that almost seems wrong. And then it happened again, 237 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: another ligament injury in the other knee. Just after the 238 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: beginning of his red shirt fifth year began. Coach ron 239 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: So when Sean got hurt the second time, when I 240 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 1: was concerned he would just be, you know, mess mentally 241 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: because of that injury. He was really philosophical about it, 242 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: he said, kind of coach Nobody's fault, he says, just 243 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: one of those things. He said, sooner or later, it 244 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 1: was going to go, just like the other knee, he said. 245 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: So it went, and I got it fixed, and I 246 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: should be good as new after that. And what I 247 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: found out was that it mentally made me a bit 248 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: of football player. I mean, that was really how he 249 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:13,240 Speaker 1: approached it. Sean obviously had such faith in what was it. 250 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: His high school coach render called it the doing right philosophy. 251 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: That was basically the only rule we had. Do right 252 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: on the field, lost the field. Sean did right, he 253 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: thought right, and he just pushed forward, and in just 254 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: under a month he was back on the field to 255 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: complete his senior year at Penn State. He played in 256 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: ten of their thirteen games, making eighty six tackles, getting 257 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: two sacks, and having two i nts. Sean Lee is 258 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: now headed to the NFL, but with the injury baggage. 259 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: Teams will have to decide where his value falls because, 260 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: except for a couple of knee injuries, Sean Lee is 261 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: clearly different. Because he's different, he also makes everybody around 262 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: him a little bit better, very regimented. You know, he's 263 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: in the wait room at six am each the right thing. 264 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: He trained right, He does everything right. Is one of 265 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,360 Speaker 1: the ultimate team players. When he's on the fielder is 266 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: never a playoff. Never. If he had eleven, Seawan Lee 267 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: would just be like, okay, let's win the national championship 268 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: and get ready for another one. The ultimate team player, 269 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: he makes everybody better. He's smart, and he studies and 270 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: he hustles, and he's intense and he's everything you want 271 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 1: a player and a teammate. But he's had two knee 272 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: injuries in eighteen months at Penn State heading into Draft Day. 273 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: Day one comes and goes. He's not going in Round 274 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: one with injury questions, but he has got a shot 275 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: to go early on Day two and maybe to his 276 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: hometown team to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a 277 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh Steeler. Now how perfect would that be? On the day? 278 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: You know, fifty second pick and I thought maybe I 279 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: could go there. That would have probably worked out well 280 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: for him. He would have never had to lead to state. 281 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: The Steelers were known to be hunting a linebacker in 282 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: the second round, why not one from their own backyard 283 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: who clearly plays with the necessary disposition to wear the 284 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: black and gold. Draft day is fun because you have 285 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: a lot of your friends there, but it's also nerve 286 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: wracking because you don't know when you're gonna get drafted, 287 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: a house full of well wishers planning on a celebration 288 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: fifty two they end up passing on me. That was 289 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: a tough decision for them, and I know it was 290 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: between Sean and a bigger guy, and I think that's 291 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: what happened. I think Sean would have been obviously, he 292 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: would have been perfect for the Pittsburgh Steelers the way 293 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: they played football, in the way he plays football, But 294 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: it just didn't work out. It seems like the Steelers 295 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: of Sean's hometown, Pittsburgh, would have been a perfect fit, 296 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: but maybe not coach render. In reality, it was the 297 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: best thing for him, but he didn't meet all the 298 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh people hand the name every day. If he was 299 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: a Pittsburgh Steeler, you know, I hadn't even thought about that. 300 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: Maybe staying at home with all your friends and family 301 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: to play professional football wouldn't have been the best. Too 302 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: many people around pulling at you when you needed to 303 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: be fully engaged each week to be a successful NFL player. Okay, 304 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: I'll buy that. But at that moment, when the Steelers 305 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: chose a bigger guy for their linebacker at number fifty two, 306 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: Sean felt the pressure turn up. I could see my 307 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: whole family was deflated. So I walk outside. I have 308 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: all my buddies there, they got there a little early. 309 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: EI there having a lot of fun, and so I 310 00:17:14,600 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: have to house seven fun. The rest of the family's 311 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,719 Speaker 1: kind of nervous about where I'm going to go. So 312 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,679 Speaker 1: you've wandered outside and you're in a mild panic. What 313 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: do you do to stay engaged with this draft? You're 314 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: keeping your phone lines open and you're open and after 315 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: that pick, I didn't know where I was going to go. 316 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: Your new teams liked you, but did they take me 317 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: off their board? That was a second and third round 318 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 1: that day. You know you had people over you want 319 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: to get drafted. That day a heart and throat moment 320 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: for a young man. No doubt. But back in Dallas, 321 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: unbeknownst to Sean, the Cowboys at pick number fifty five, 322 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: just three picks after the Steelers are having big discussions 323 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: about drafting him. Here's the Cowboys Will McClay, who was 324 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 1: now the VP of Player Personnel, but in twenty ten 325 00:17:55,640 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: he was the pro scouting coordinator. You got a first 326 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: round talent. There wasn't for the injuries. We were rolling 327 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: the roll of dice and get him into the second 328 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: Jerry being the guy that sees value in taking them. 329 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: We dug and did all the background research, going back 330 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: to high school and all the other stuff. And Woji 331 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: was from the area, so he knew people. He was 332 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: a big Pittsburgh guy. Okay, I gotta explain. Woji is 333 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: John Wojahowski. He was the Northeast College scouting director for 334 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: the Cowboys in two and ten. He had attended Duquane 335 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,479 Speaker 1: University himself. He was a Pittsburgh guy. And by the way, 336 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: he was all over Shawn Lee for the Cowboys. I 337 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 1: remember going through the board and looking at the options 338 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: that were there, and O'shan stuck out like a blinket light, 339 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: all of the traits that he had. What we're looking for. 340 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: The only deal was the injury. And you know that 341 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 1: was when Jerry, the general manager made you called it, 342 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: that's the guy that we need to go with because 343 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: of all the glowing remarks that we had a majority 344 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 1: of his grade for first round grade. So when Jerry 345 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 1: saw that, that was right up our alley to go 346 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 1: give with my brother. I'm saying, literally, man, I don't 347 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: think I'm gonna get drafted. Boomed the phone call, it's 348 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 1: an unknown number, and on the their lines Jerry Jones. 349 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: He said, Sean, you're gonna be a cowboy. Hello, he's 350 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: Shawn Lee yet, sir, This Jerry Jones, owner of the 351 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys. Boy, them damn Steelers really pooped the bad 352 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,360 Speaker 1: didn't napp thought for sure they'd take you at fifty two. 353 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: We're so happy to have you here as a Dallas Cowboy. 354 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: We're gonna get you into town as quickly as we 355 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: can get you. With our coaches and our coordinators. We're 356 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: gonna work as Shawn. You're gonna have a good time. 357 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: You're gonna love being the Dallas Cowboy. Welcome to Dallas. 358 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: Shawn Lee. So At picked number fifty five in the 359 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 1: second round of the two and ten NFL Draft, the 360 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Sean Lee from Penn State University. 361 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 1: I took off and I ran up my stairs and 362 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: I came busting in the house, and half of my 363 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: house and families here, friends are on the side. I 364 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 1: come in. I say, I'm gonna be cowboy. He walked 365 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: back in that door with a big smile on those space. 366 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: My family goescariousy. My friends they walk out. You know 367 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: they weren't happy. They did not want to root for 368 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: the Cowboys. So did your family ever convert to rooting 369 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: for the hated Cowboys? And what about your friends? The 370 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: family switched pretty quick, and at least I think a 371 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: lot of my friends did. Hi. I'm Clint Tillison with 372 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: you United Aggin Turf before you can park yourself in 373 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: front of the game, park yourself in a John Dear 374 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: and power through your chores. Our land Run package is 375 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 1: a ten twenty five R twenty five horsepower tractor with 376 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: a loader, rotary cutter and a box blade for two 377 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 1: twenty nine a month, and the price you see is 378 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,360 Speaker 1: the price you'll pay. No surprises, so don't miss another kickoff. 379 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: Visit United agginturf dot com offer ins February first, twenty 380 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: twenty one. Restrictions apply. He see dealer for details. Now 381 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: let's get to work. Honey, big news scary are you? Okay? Oh? 382 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I 383 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only 384 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 1: for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, 385 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: I changed. My name's Jackie Flash. Okay, But the best 386 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: smartphone deals at AT AT and T are for everyone, new 387 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess who's getting a deal. 388 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: Is it Jackie Flash, Jackie Flash? It's not complicated at 389 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,200 Speaker 1: and t our best smartphone deals are for everyone. Restrictions apply. 390 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: Is it att dot com for details? New Doctor Pepper 391 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: zero sugar, you deserve it. I do deserve that. You 392 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: deserve decadent flavor without sugar, and a day at the 393 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:33,119 Speaker 1: beach without sand getting everywhere, and a relaxing bath that 394 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: your children don't interrupt. I deserve all that. It's really 395 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: just a visual metaphor for doctor Pepper zero sugar. Everything 396 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: you want, nothing you don't, a visual metaphor on the radio. 397 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,639 Speaker 1: I do deserve that, Doctor Pepper zero sugar, the zero 398 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: you deserve is finally here. Before there was a draft. 399 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: You get sized up a cowboy by three simple factors, 400 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: the crease in his hat, the bend of his brim, 401 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 1: and his unbending attitude a man. Stetson didn't just protect 402 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: him from what life through at him. It projected a rugged, 403 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American made with pride. 404 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: Right here in Texas, there's still the unofficial crowd of 405 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,760 Speaker 1: all self respecting Cowboys, and Stetson is proud to be 406 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: on the field with America's team. Find a retailer nearest 407 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: Jewitt Stetson dot com, slash Cowboys. You know when we 408 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: played them, I've seen some of my friends. You know, 409 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: they'll have my jersey on, but underneath they have black 410 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: and goals. So I don't know if they've completely converted. 411 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: In Shawn's seventh year in Dallas, in two thousand and sixteen, 412 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,200 Speaker 1: the Cowboys went to Pittsburgh and played at Hines Field, 413 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: only about thirty minutes from Shawn's home in Pittsburgh. The 414 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: Cowboys came to town with a seven game winning streak 415 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 1: and two kids running their offense, Dac Prescott and Zeke Elliott. 416 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: The Cowboys won that game in a walk off, as 417 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: Zeke busted a thirty four yard run with nine seconds 418 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 1: left in the game to give the Cowboys a thirty 419 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: five to thirty win. After the game, Shawn's friends and 420 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: family all had on their number fifty Cowboys jerseys to 421 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: greet their man's john. Seven years later, the support group 422 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: was now in full support. It took a while. Sean. 423 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: I knew the history growing up, and you know, I 424 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: was probably in third grade when the Cowboys beat the 425 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 1: Steelers in Super Bowl thirties, so you know, I saw 426 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: it the other way around. You knew that this rivalry 427 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: ran deep. Every time we played them, either in Dallas 428 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 1: or in Pittsburgh. There's a ton of Cowboys fans, a 429 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: ton of Castealer fans, and they come loud and they 430 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: really support both teams. There's two incredible franchises with tradition. 431 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: Sean knew his history and he knew himself playing in 432 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: the NFL was always going to be about team and 433 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: tradition for him, and he wanted to be a leader 434 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: for his team. So early on, he put his eyes 435 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: on Jason Witten, who he considered a mentor anything that 436 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,199 Speaker 1: he had to face. He attacked head on, whether it 437 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,960 Speaker 1: wasn't one on one in practice, whether it was working 438 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: out in the offseason, or whether or not it was 439 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: some type of issue we had to deal with the team. 440 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: He never backed away from it. And that's something that 441 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: I learned from him. Sean is the old men teammate. 442 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: You know, he's everything you want and his ability to 443 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: come in the program, see how we do it, watch 444 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: learn be him. He was true to himself and the 445 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: way he goes about it and then become his own. 446 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: I don't view myself as a mentor to him. I 447 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: view it truly viewed myself as a brother him, Jason 448 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 1: Winton and Sean Lee, two all time cowboys who seemingly 449 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: always did it right. And I have to tell you 450 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 1: a separate story here. One season late in his career, 451 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,239 Speaker 1: Sean had agreed to do a radio show with me 452 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,239 Speaker 1: on a Tuesday night out at a restaurant, usually an 453 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: off night for the players. But right before the show 454 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 1: he called me and he said, I can't come, Brady, 455 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: I can't move. Sunday's game had been so violent and 456 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: hard on his body than on Tuesday, he still couldn't walk. 457 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:44,959 Speaker 1: I selfishly pushed him become we had sponsors coming or whatever, 458 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: and he did because he's that guy. My son, Jake 459 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,119 Speaker 1: and I went to the back door of that restaurant 460 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: and pulled him out of his car. I went around 461 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: to one side and pushed him. Jake pulled him out 462 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: of the other. That's how he got him out. When 463 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 1: he stood up, he put both arms around our necks 464 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: and we basically carried him in the back door of 465 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: that restaurant. When he got close to the stage, he 466 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,479 Speaker 1: let go of us and he limped his way up 467 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: onto that small stage. He was in so much pain. 468 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: He did three segments with me on the ESPN radio, 469 00:25:13,119 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: and I snuck him out the back door during our 470 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,439 Speaker 1: final segment so fans wouldn't be able to corner him 471 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: for autographs. I had never seen anything like it. He 472 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,240 Speaker 1: was virtually locked up like a mummy. He couldn't move, 473 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: He couldn't move his arms, he couldn't move his legs. 474 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: He was covered in bruises. The soreness and the pain 475 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: were so evident. I'd never seen it. And yet the 476 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: next day, the very next day, after two more late 477 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: evening massages, on Tuesday night, four ice Baz On Wednesday morning, 478 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: he was on the field first in line for linebacker drills. Amazing, 479 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: Will McClay, There's been very few people that have been 480 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,960 Speaker 1: around that found ways to pull himself up by the 481 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: bootstraps like Sean did every week, every week for eleven years. 482 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: That slightly under sized linebacker from Pittsburgh got himself off 483 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: the training table on Monday and out of the massages 484 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: and the cold bass on Tuesday to lead his defensive 485 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: teammates in drills to get ready for their next opponent 486 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: on Wednesday. It was amazing to watch, and I would 487 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: often ask John, why why not taking Wednesday off every 488 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: now and then? Everyone knows who you are. We in 489 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: the media wouldn't criticize your teammates know you, The fans 490 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: know you, They know how hard you go. Will McClay, 491 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 1: John and I remain close, and I you know, and 492 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 1: I got close with his agent about trying to talk 493 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: to him and let him know that it was okay 494 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: to miss a practice to preserve yourself. You know, the 495 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,879 Speaker 1: games are on Sunday. That's just not how he are. 496 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: I would often press him. I would say Sean why. 497 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: His answer was always the same, Brady, I lead them. 498 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: I am their example. I go first in linebacker drills. 499 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: I go hard from the very first one. We don't 500 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: start slow and build up. We go hard all day. 501 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: That's my role. A couple of years ago, when he 502 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 1: had had I think it was scrowing. His leg was 503 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: black and blue all the way down. He's still trying 504 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 1: to get ready for practice, to be able to go 505 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,199 Speaker 1: out and do whatever he could to get the looks. 506 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 1: He's different in that way, and maybe he should have 507 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 1: taken a few days here and there in his eleven years. 508 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: Maybe his career would have lasted longer. But the other 509 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: thing that always hung around Sean's neck was how many 510 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 1: games he'd miss due to injury. He felt badly about 511 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,959 Speaker 1: every game he missed, for his team, for his teammates, 512 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 1: for the city of Dallas, and for you the fans. 513 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: So no no days off if he could walk none. 514 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: Undoubtedly always carried that with him. I mean, you know, 515 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: whatever he would get hurt, that would be the number 516 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: one things. I got to be out there for the team. 517 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: I can't let guys down. I don't want to let 518 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: you guys down. That was a driving factor that made 519 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: him who he was as a player, because the most 520 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: important thing to him was the team and being there 521 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: for the team, and those are rare qualities. I've covered 522 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: the NFL now for over twenty years, and I'm just 523 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,320 Speaker 1: stating facts. In today's NFL, with all the violent collisions 524 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 1: and let's face all the money, guys are apt to 525 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 1: take care of themselves and take days off to preserve 526 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 1: their bodies and potentially length in their careers. And I 527 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: don't say it with judgment, but Sean Lee wouldn't do it. 528 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: Team team, team, and as we heard, rare, rare, rare. 529 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: I think Shawn Lee was the consummate cowboy because he 530 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:24,360 Speaker 1: always came to work every day and the number one 531 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,000 Speaker 1: thing to him was the team and winning. Yes, it 532 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: was winning and accountability to his teammates and to the fans. 533 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: When you get let in your career and you realize 534 00:28:34,040 --> 00:28:36,439 Speaker 1: how fleeting it is, and really, if you don't win 535 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: the championship, there's a pitt in your stomach that you 536 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: almost haven't accomplished anything. As much as you know, like, 537 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: as much as you've had success in certain games and 538 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: the certain accolades you might have, it doesn't mean much 539 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 1: unless you win a championship with guys you loved. I 540 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: took to the locker room a while back with Jake 541 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 1: to ask a prominent great Dallas cowboy, Zach Martin, about 542 00:28:56,120 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: Shawn Lee. Is there a better example in your tenure 543 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: here of what a Dallas cowboy is then former Pittsburgh 544 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: fan Shawn Lee. No, there's really not. He's been a 545 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,120 Speaker 1: pro boll, he's been an All Pro player, but he 546 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: comes in treats each day like he's a rookie. He's 547 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: one of the best examples of what a teammate and 548 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: what a football player should be. Will McLay, whenever you 549 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: bring up Sean, I think about him being out on 550 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: the field and he's injured and we'd be done with practice. 551 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: He would go out after practice when he was doing 552 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: his rehab and work on reading his keys, his steps, 553 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: his footwork, everything to be the best that he could 554 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: possibly be. And not only internally from what he felt, 555 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: he owed people that believed in him, which is a rare, 556 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: rare quality. And he's one of my favorite people in 557 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: the world. Scouts directors of player personnel, those guys go 558 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: hunting day in and day out for the best players, 559 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 1: but also the right guys. They're hard to find. Those 560 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 1: guys that caere and feel a sense of responsibility to 561 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: league and their teams and the men and women who 562 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 1: championed them to make it all the way to the NFL. 563 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: So don't be surprised when a guy like Will McClay 564 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: a key cog in this Cowboys machine. Says Shawn Lee 565 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: is one of his favorite people in the world. And 566 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:16,600 Speaker 1: here's why, because Sean gave back what Will told people 567 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: he would go and get, and few players do so. 568 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 1: After eleven years and nine hundred ninety five tackles to 569 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 1: go along with fourteen interceptions, plus two Pro Bowls and 570 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 1: one First team All Pro election, Shawn Lee retired from 571 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 1: the NFL in late April of two and twenty one. 572 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: He didn't call a press conference, He just humbly put 573 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: out a statement and it started like this quote. For 574 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: eleven seasons, I was privileged to where the Cowboys star. 575 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: We want to play forever, but it's my time to 576 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: walk away. And it ended with this. Whenever I'm near 577 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: a field, the smell brings me back to when I 578 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: first started playing, pulling on a helmet, trying on shoulder pads, 579 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: that perfect tackle. To think of that journey now, experiencing 580 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 1: things I never thought possible. With the men and women 581 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: who made this game what it is. I am beyond grateful. 582 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: Thank you Cowboys Nation. It has been my honor. So 583 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: now my last request is this, Will McClay, Stephen and 584 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 1: Jerry Jones, get Shawn Lee back to Dallas to properly 585 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: influence this young, really good team, and let's get that 586 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: damn Super Bowl Trophy back to Dallas. Will. I'm trying 587 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: to do whatever I can to keep him engaged with 588 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 1: the Cowboys because those are the people that players nowadays 589 00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: need to see, you need to emulate. Amen, Will, and 590 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 1: thanks Shawn Lee for letting us in on your cowboy life.