Hamlin is the early leader
Source: www.venturacountystar.com
Just like the ads used to say about E.F. Hutton, when Dallas Cowboys free safety Ken Hamlin speaks, everyone listens.
Despite this being just his second year with the team, Hamlin is the undisputed leader of a secondary unit that includes Pro Bowlers Terence Newman and Roy Williams and eight-year veteran Anthony Henry.
From the moment he joined the Cowboys as a free agent before the 2007 season, Hamlin took on the responsibility of making sure his teammates in the secondary were communicating with him and each other.
How big is communication in the secondary?
"Huge. That's the No. 1 thing you've got to have," Hamlin said. "You can't run around quiet. You have to know the other guy has your back. You have to know what the other guy is doing. I try to do my best to communicate and then we try to do our best to relay it around.
"I try to make each person accountable for the others. I go out and make sure everyone knows what to do. I communicate and try to make sure we are all on the same page."
Hamlin embraces his role as the quarterback of the defense. He said he feels it's an honor to have that job thrust upon him. That belief lets Hamlin said have no fear of stepping on his new teammates toes when he gives them directions.
"Anything I say is not to disrespect anybody," Hamlin said. "They know if I am making a point to say something, just like I know if they are making a point to say something to me.
"This is a man's game. We are out here to get better. And we respect each other. At the same time, we know that if someone is on you about something or whatever, it's constructive criticism, and that's how we take it."
Hamlin's voice was missing for all the offseason workouts, as he and the team were involved in discussions about a long-term deal.
He played the 2007 on a one-year deal after spending the first four years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2005 he suffered a head injury that cost him 10 games and even after playing the entire 2006 season without complications, teams were leery of giving him a long-term deal.
Hamlin signed a one-year contract with Dallas before last season, gambling he could play well enough to earn a big money deal in the process.
The gamble paid off, as he posted a career high in tackles (102), interceptions (five) and pass defections (15), earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl in the process.
The Cowboys tried to franchise tag him, but he refused to sign, the offer of $4.3 million. The two sides went back and forth for months, causing Hamlin to miss all of the mini camps and OTAs (organized team activities).
Despite not being around, Hamlin stayed close to the team, talking regularly with defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and speaking a few times with secondary coach Dave Campo.
His goal was to make sure when the deal did get done; he would be ready to hit the ground running.
A few weeks before training camp opened, Hamlin signed a six-year, $39 million deal that included a $9 million signing bonus as part of a $15 million guarantee.
"I wasn't concerned with the contract," he said. "I just made sure I was prepared. Being away didn't keep me from talking to my teammates."
Head coach Wade Phillips joked that he didn't want to praise a guy who missed all the offseason workouts, but then admitted that Hamlin has done very well despite not being around the complex.
"It's real noticeable that he's quarterbacking back there. That impressed our coaches that hadn't been around him," Phillips said. "Once we got him, we wanted to make sure to keep him."
Even in unusual circumstances, Hamlin is a leader with his team. He and a teammate were signing autographs after Wednesday night's practice when female fan asked them to sign her bra.
As he teammate considered it, Hamlin told him to think reconsider because there were kids around.
It's that kind of leadership that makes Hamlin a player who the organization knows they can count on to help lead the charge this season.
Just like the ads used to say about E.F. Hutton, when Dallas Cowboys free safety Ken Hamlin speaks, everyone listens.
Despite this being just his second year with the team, Hamlin is the undisputed leader of a secondary unit that includes Pro Bowlers Terence Newman and Roy Williams and eight-year veteran Anthony Henry.
From the moment he joined the Cowboys as a free agent before the 2007 season, Hamlin took on the responsibility of making sure his teammates in the secondary were communicating with him and each other.
How big is communication in the secondary?
"Huge. That's the No. 1 thing you've got to have," Hamlin said. "You can't run around quiet. You have to know the other guy has your back. You have to know what the other guy is doing. I try to do my best to communicate and then we try to do our best to relay it around.
"I try to make each person accountable for the others. I go out and make sure everyone knows what to do. I communicate and try to make sure we are all on the same page."
Hamlin embraces his role as the quarterback of the defense. He said he feels it's an honor to have that job thrust upon him. That belief lets Hamlin said have no fear of stepping on his new teammates toes when he gives them directions.
"Anything I say is not to disrespect anybody," Hamlin said. "They know if I am making a point to say something, just like I know if they are making a point to say something to me.
"This is a man's game. We are out here to get better. And we respect each other. At the same time, we know that if someone is on you about something or whatever, it's constructive criticism, and that's how we take it."
Hamlin's voice was missing for all the offseason workouts, as he and the team were involved in discussions about a long-term deal.
He played the 2007 on a one-year deal after spending the first four years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2005 he suffered a head injury that cost him 10 games and even after playing the entire 2006 season without complications, teams were leery of giving him a long-term deal.
Hamlin signed a one-year contract with Dallas before last season, gambling he could play well enough to earn a big money deal in the process.
The gamble paid off, as he posted a career high in tackles (102), interceptions (five) and pass defections (15), earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl in the process.
The Cowboys tried to franchise tag him, but he refused to sign, the offer of $4.3 million. The two sides went back and forth for months, causing Hamlin to miss all of the mini camps and OTAs (organized team activities).
Despite not being around, Hamlin stayed close to the team, talking regularly with defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and speaking a few times with secondary coach Dave Campo.
His goal was to make sure when the deal did get done; he would be ready to hit the ground running.
A few weeks before training camp opened, Hamlin signed a six-year, $39 million deal that included a $9 million signing bonus as part of a $15 million guarantee.
"I wasn't concerned with the contract," he said. "I just made sure I was prepared. Being away didn't keep me from talking to my teammates."
Head coach Wade Phillips joked that he didn't want to praise a guy who missed all the offseason workouts, but then admitted that Hamlin has done very well despite not being around the complex.
"It's real noticeable that he's quarterbacking back there. That impressed our coaches that hadn't been around him," Phillips said. "Once we got him, we wanted to make sure to keep him."
Even in unusual circumstances, Hamlin is a leader with his team. He and a teammate were signing autographs after Wednesday night's practice when female fan asked them to sign her bra.
As he teammate considered it, Hamlin told him to think reconsider because there were kids around.
It's that kind of leadership that makes Hamlin a player who the organization knows they can count on to help lead the charge this season.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:10 PM
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