A bond between two brothers can never be broken and two Cowboys who attended the same college have forged that over the last decade, despite not having any blood relation. Tyrone Crawford and DeMarcus Lawrence were never teammates at Boise State, but they have a relationship as if the two have been around each other since Pop Warner days. ESPN’s Todd Archer told the story of the family bond Crawford and Lawrence share.

The Cowboys selected Crawford with the No. 81 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Just a couple years later, Lawrence was selected with the No. 34 pick by Dallas.

Crawford has been a leader for the Cowboys defense for years, continuously is asked by Rod Marinelli to be the swiss-army knife of the Cowboys’ defensive line. From a 3-4 defensive end to a 4-3 edge guy, to an interior guy, back outside and then back inside again. On the fly, whenever Dallas has a need, Crawford fills the hole. That versatility is paramount and is finally resulting in a statistical season worthy of his pay grade.

He’s one of the more underrated components of the “Hot Boyz” this season, contributing 5.5 sacks heading into Week 15. It is a new career high for a player who got paid before accomplishing much in the league, and has drawn the ire of the fanbase for not living up to the statistical measures that normally come with the money he got.

Lawrence is the team’s quarterback hunter; the guy who gets the fame and glory, and deservedly so. One would have to be living under a rock to miss how supportive the fan base is of Lawrence getting the big contract this offseason.

Following a 14.5 sack 2017, he currently sits with a team-high mark of 8.5 sacks and one interception.

Crawford is second on the team in presssures with 36 to Lawrence’s 55.

Back in 2015, Crawford signed a lucrative extension as an up-and-coming player the team wanted to make sure it kept in house. This offseason, Lawrence will be trying to earn himself a multi-year deal which will pay him as one of the top players in the entire league. They celebrate each other as men, friends and brothers, and it all started on a routine recruiting visit back in 2011.

Archer relates a tale that demonstrates how the two instantly clicked.

At dinner the night before the Broncos played Wyoming, Lawrence wanted Crawford to try a pass-rush move in the game. Arm over, back pat, rip. The game was in the third quarter and Crawford did not have a sack.

“He’s looking at me, ‘Use the move. Use the move,’” Crawford said. “We get out there and it’s third down. I’m going to use the move exactly how he said and I got a sack.”

One of the first people Crawford saw on the sideline was Lawrence, who was jumping up and down like they were teammates and not somebody he had known for only a couple of days.

“Man, I’m going to tell everybody this story for the rest of our lives,” Lawrence said.

The relationship between these two is a great sight to see. When one goes to dinner, the other attends. If one is hosting a charitable event, the other is always there. They even have their own handshake and have a bond like no other.

Lawrence was suspended for four games in the 2016 season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Who was there to get Lawrence on the right track? His best friend, Tyrone Crawford.

“Just trying to be his friend, his big-bro type of guy to him as far as when it comes to his football life and more importantly, his life outside of football,” Crawford said.

Without Crawford, Lawrence isn’t sure he would have become the player he is.

“I’m telling you, through those dark times in my life, I sat back and I used to tell my girl all the time, ‘Babe, I’m grateful I have Ty on my team.’ Like, shoot, I know he helped us a lot. When you go down your dark ways and you lose your way and lose your vision of life, and you have somebody come tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘I’m here for you,’ I mean, s—, that’s all you need. That’s all somebody need is a helping hand, just a touch, ‘Man, I appreciate you and I see you working hard.’ Those things go a long way.”

Both have had multiple surgeries. Lawrence on his back (twice) and Crawford tore his Achilles in 2013 and has had multiple shoulder surgeries. Just when Crawford worried his career was coming to an end the Cowboys signed him through 2020.

“I told that little f—– he’s not retiring on me, and I told the organization, ‘Y’all let Tyrone go, I’m going to be pissed.’ That’s my dog,” Lawrence said. “We ride together. I mean, you don’t want me coming to work, dreading being at work. I’m at work because I want to play with him every down. So I mean, just embrace this moment in my life, and I already know after football we’ll be close.”

Maybe not five minutes apart, like now, but not too far away, either.

“Bro, trust me when I say that that’s my guy, that’s my guy,” Lawrence said. “I ain’t sitting here and say, ‘I love you. You’re my bro,’ and you’re not. Yeah, that’s my brother.”

The bond between these two will never be broken and Cowboys fans should hope to see these two together with a star on their helmet for years to come.

— Corey Clark