DeMarcus Ware: Cowboys are full of leaders

By foxsports
Published

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher made a highly publicized statement on Friday, saying he was unsure who the leaders on the team.
 
Hatcher, who said the Cowboys have plenty of talent, added that the team needs a vocal leader who is similar to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
 
Not all his teammates agree. Asked about Hatcher's comments on Saturday at a Supercross event at Cowboys Stadium, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the face of the Cowboys' defense, said the team leadership is just fine.

"The thing is on our team, there's not a guy who is just a straight up, solitary leader," Ware told The Dallas Morning News. "I think it comes as a whole. You got to look at it as we have [Tony] Romo, we have [Jason] Witten, you have me, Bradie James, Sean Lee. Everybody has their role, and they take on that leadership role when it's needed.
 
"Every team doesn't need just a one-time guy who is like the leader of that team. If everybody is checking everybody, that's all you need. There comes a time to step up when it's time to step up and get the job done."
 
During a radio interview on "The Ben and Skin Show" on KESN-FM, Hatcher was asked who the Cowboys team leaders are. Hatcher responded with a pause.
 
"Dude, I got to be honest with you: That's a good question," Hatcher said. "I really don't know, man."

He added: "That's another thing I think we really need. We need like a Ray Lewis. We don't have that. We got talent and everything we need, but if we get like a Ray Lewis, everybody (could) buy into him. When Ray Lewis speaks, everybody listens to him, a guy like that. You really don't got that. I think we definitely need somebody like that."
 
Hatcher, who just completed his sixth NFL season after being selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2006 draft, didn't try to downgrade the importance of having that leadership. He said the Cowboys need someone who will hold everyone accountable.
 
"With a leader like that, everybody is held accountable, guys aren't doing their own thing here or there," he said. "Everybody is going in one direction. Once you have that, you'll be good. We're still looking for it."