FRISCO, Texas -- Considering the season Sean Lee has had for the Dallas Cowboys, it’s hard to imagine him not being named to the Pro Bowl.
By the Cowboys’ coaches’ count, Lee has a team-high 168 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three quarterback pressures, two pass deflections and a fumble recovery. The game before votes from across the league were tallied, Lee had 22 tackles, a franchise record, in a prime-time game against the New York Giants.
Tackles, however, are an unofficial NFL stat because the numbers can vary from team to team. Using the press box stats, Lee is second in the NFL to Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks, 140 to 145.
Wagner and Luke Kuechly were named the inside or middle linebackers. Kuechly has missed four games because of a concussion for the Carolina Panthers.
At outside linebacker, Vic Beasley Jr., Ryan Kerrigan and Thomas Davis were selected. Beasley and Kerrigan are outside linebackers in 3-4 defenses, essentially defensive ends. Davis, like Lee, plays weakside linebacker for the Panthers.
Teammates, present and past, stated their case for Lee’s candidacy.
“Sean not being voted into the Pro Bowl is a huge mistake,” Tony Romo said via text message. “I think Sean Lee is the best linebacker in the NFL. I see him every day and should know his weaknesses. I still can’t find any.”
Fellow linebacker Andrew Gachkar went to Twitter to stand up for Lee.
Just saw these pro bowl rosters... lol absolutely the stupidest list I've ever seen if it doesn't include Sean Lee. Pointless. #ProBowl
— Andrew Gachkar (@theGACH) December 21, 2016
Jeremy Mincey was Lee's teammate for two seasons (2014-15) and got to see Lee up close.
@toddarcher Sean Lee of the best to do it.. he don't make probowl it's all a hoax
— Jeremy Mincey CEO (@MrMince94) December 21, 2016
Lee was added to the Pro Bowl last season as an injury replacement. He will likely be added again, although he should have earned the honor from the outset.
But if the Cowboys’ season goes the way they want it to go, then Lee and the five Cowboys picked -- Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin -- won’t play in the all-star game. They will be getting ready for Super Bowl LI in Houston.
Lee would much prefer that to a spot in the Pro Bowl.