DMN Blog: DeMarcus Ware needs to fill leadership void
By Tim MacMahon
When he wasn't complaining about his contract or role, Greg Ellis was a great influence on the young Cowboys' defensive players.
It's DeMarcus Ware's turn now.
Ware has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He'll get paid sooner or later for that production. He seems to understand that the next step for him is establishing himself as a leader in the Cowboys' locker room.
Ware has taken subtle steps in that direction the last couple of weeks. He's a reserved guy who would prefer to avoid the media as much as possible, but he talked to a horde of reporters for several minutes after both of the OTA workouts that were open to the media. That might not seem like a big deal, but part of being a leader is serving as a team spokesman.
Mentoring younger players, something Ellis did eagerly regardless of the circumstances, is another major part of leadership. Ware worked one-on-one with Brandon Williams on the Standridge Stadium turf while most of their teammates headed for the bus yesterday.
Ware, whose production and character commands respect, has always been a lead-by-example kind of guy. The Cowboys need their best player to be more than that, and Ware appears willing to do so.
When he wasn't complaining about his contract or role, Greg Ellis was a great influence on the young Cowboys' defensive players.
It's DeMarcus Ware's turn now.
Ware has established himself as one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He'll get paid sooner or later for that production. He seems to understand that the next step for him is establishing himself as a leader in the Cowboys' locker room.
Ware has taken subtle steps in that direction the last couple of weeks. He's a reserved guy who would prefer to avoid the media as much as possible, but he talked to a horde of reporters for several minutes after both of the OTA workouts that were open to the media. That might not seem like a big deal, but part of being a leader is serving as a team spokesman.
Mentoring younger players, something Ellis did eagerly regardless of the circumstances, is another major part of leadership. Ware worked one-on-one with Brandon Williams on the Standridge Stadium turf while most of their teammates headed for the bus yesterday.
Ware, whose production and character commands respect, has always been a lead-by-example kind of guy. The Cowboys need their best player to be more than that, and Ware appears willing to do so.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:02 PM
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