_(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)_
_With the departures of Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Jourdan Lewis, the Cowboys have seemingly lost a lot of locker room leadership._ _But I'm wondering if that's a good thing. No disrespect to them, but maybe some new voices are needed for this team to take the next step. What do you think? And who do you think could now step up into those leadership roles?_ **– Tim Everson/Ft. Worth, TX**
**Patrik:** It's only a good thing if it's a good thing, and you can definitely read between the lines there when looking at the current state of social affairs from one of the three you named, Tim. The leadership of Zack Martin and Jourdan Lewis is not easily replaced, and that's saying the least, because they both were looked upon as not only impact players on the field but also impactful mentors in the locker room who commanded respect and demanded the standard be met, and with no excuses for when it's not. Whomever steps into those shoes will have to check all of the above boxes so, no, it's not always good to have new leadership if in fact the leadership you're losing is outstanding. But, that said, it does give an opportunity for others _to step up_ and show what they can do and, if they take full advantage of that opportunity, it can ultimately be viewed as a consequential positive — in that you might've never known who the next great leader was if the incumbent great leader(s) was (were) still around. Next man up, indeed.