No Regrets, But Hatch Likes Team Direction

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No Regrets, But Hatch Likes Team DirectionJosh Ellis
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer


DALLAS - Questions of the Cowboys' leadership are not unique to this offseason, but it was notable that a veteran player would bring them up, as defensive end Jason Hatcher did in February.

Hatcher said at the time he really didn't know who the Cowboys' leaders were, telling KESN-FM in Dallas, "We need a Ray Lewis. We don't have that."

Three months later, the team still doesn't have a singular, unquestioned, outspoken figure at the top of the roster, and Hatcher isn't taking back what he said. Some things have changed, though.

"I don't regret anything I said – whatever I say, I say what's on my heart," Hatcher said Sunday. "I don't care how you take it. But at the same time, I wasn't dogging anybody. I wasn't dogging the leaders we have. I just felt like guys can do better, you know? And guys have stepped up. I like the way this team is going. We've got camaraderie, guys looking out for each other, guys working together."

The team's voluntary offseason strength and conditioning program started in April, and the Cowboys will begin their month-long Organized Team Activity (OTA) program with three days of practice this week.

Now is the time for leaders to lead, not after a few tough losses when the ubiquitous "players-only meeting" must be called.

"If I'm approaching the game wrong, get in my face," Hatcher said. "If you're working hard, get in my face. But if you're slacking, you can't say anything to me. ... If you're going out there working hard day in and day out, and I respect you, you can say something to me, and we've got that this year – guys working hard every single day. I've grown respect for a lot of cats on this team. We all have.

"It's just one of those things that you pray for at night. You know what's wrong, and then once you see it starting to fix itself, you'll be like 'Here we go.' Now we're going in the right direction."

On Sunday, Hatcher hosted the eighth annual fundraiser event "Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party," along with former Cowboys Preston Pearson and Chad Hennings, with proceeds benefitting the North Texas Food Bank. Aimed at fighting childhood hunger in the area, the event is especially meaningful for Hatcher.

"I think there were 12 of us in one house, single parent," Hatcher said of his upbringing. "We had to fend for each other. Some nights you just had to sacrifice for your little sister to eat, and then you don't eat. It's one of those things you can really relate to. It really touched my heart."

Despite taking that leadership role in his own home at a very early age, Hatcher says he can't be the Cowboys' version of Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens' unquestioned head man.

"I didn't make that quote on the radio to be that guy," Hatcher said. "I'm not going to be me making a rah-rah speech. It's going to be the hard-working Hatch that I've been ever since I've been here. People saw me work hard. I never gave up, didn't get the playing time I wanted, but look at me now. I'm a starter. So that's the way I lead. I can't give you a rah-rah speech to tell you to get going, but what I can do, every day, is work my butt off, and that can be an example for you.

That's the model head coach Jason Garrett would like more players to follow. Garrett has maintained the Cowboys have a lot of solid leaders, some of the best players at their respective positions in the league, but like every coach in the league, he wants more of the rank and file to emerge.

"Hatch is an example of one of those guys," Garrett said at Sunday's event. "He's been a good player for us, played really well last year, and he's just grabbing more of it. I think tonight's a good example, but I think what he's doing each and every day in our offseason program is a better example of it."
 
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