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Cowboys fans remember what happened to the defense last season without Sean Lee in the middle of the field -- a 34-7 curb-stomping at the hands of the Eagles on national TV.
Rob Ryan does too, as the flamboyant defensive coordinator was reportedly in tears when discussing Lee's absence with his twin brother Rex, head coach of the Jets, over the phone:
Rex Ryan said his brother Rob was "literally crying on the phone" over the loss of LB Sean Lee. Everyone in league seems to appreciate Lee.
— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) October 24, 2012
In his first three years in the NFL, Lee has established himself as one of the league's premier playmakers in the middle of the field. He leads Dallas in tackles this season and has 7 career INT's, a huge number for an ILB.
If there's any consolation for Cowboys fans, it's that the team has upgraded the talent around him, shipping out aging veteran LB's Bradie James and Keith Brooking and bringing in younger players in Bruce Carter and Dan Connor.