UPDATE: Micah Parsons took to social media to make his feelings on the situation clear.
Among the most notable lines read was, “I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me.”
Parsons has made it clear that he has officially submitted a trade request. You can read the full notes app post below.
Tensions are already high in Cowboys training camp as star EDGE rusher Micah Parsons has yet to reach a long-term contract with the franchise. The former 12th-overall pick is entering the final season of his rookie deal. Parsons is present at training camp, but is not participating in on-field activities, and he has not been shy about voicing his frustrations.
The Cowboys and Parsons appear to be further apart on a deal than they were at the start of the offseason, with things heading toward a tipping point. The Athletic’s Senior NFL Insider Dianna Russini reports that Parsons is considering a trade request or declaring his relationship with the team severed beyond repair.
Russini also reports that Parsons spoke directly with the Cowboys’ owner, Jerry Jones, directly several times during the spring. Dallas believed they had a deal in place, but Parsons seemingly thought these were just conversations and that his agent would handle the full negotiations. The Cowboys have since declined to engage in conversations with his agent, which led to this tense standoff.
This also comes less than two weeks after Jones publicly discussed how “Michael Parson” is one of the most savvy players he has ever negotiated with.
Parsons is reportedly weighing some “drastic measures” to push the negotiations in his favor. What lengths he is willing to go to and how bothersome this is to Dallas will largely dictate how talks go from here. But could we have seen the last snap of Parsons in a Cowboys uniform?
The best-case scenario for both sides would be for Dallas to step up and offer the historic contract Parsons is seemingly seeking. Both Maxx Crosby and T.J. Watt signed massive contract extensions this offseason, with Watt most recently inking a three-year, $123 million deal to make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. Parsons’ caliber of talent should allow him to be viewed in a similar light, and the star pass-rusher wants to see this reflected in his contract.
The worst-case scenario for Dallas would be not being able to repair this relationship. Every other NFL team is well aware of the game of chicken now being played between the two sides and will be in no rush to resolve it for them. There certainly would be plenty of interest for the 26-year-old who has been an All-Pro all four years in the league, with 52.5 sacks tallied across this time. But it would be nearly impossible for the Cowboys to bring back fair value in a trade return based on the context of the current situation. Not only would the Cowboys be losing out on arguably their best overall player, but they would not bring back the proper return that his talent would usually command.
Parsons is making an effort to take the driver’s seat in the negotiation with these recent antics. But he will largely dictate what comes next. Jerry Jones has shown a high tolerance for these types of staring contests in the past and has not seemed bothered to this point.
The most likely outcome still feels like Dallas stepping up to the plate and producing the contract Parsons desires. But this probably should have happened weeks or months ago. If Parsons deems the relationship unsalvageable, Dallas will be forced to consider alternative options. Getting some sort of trade return for the Penn State product is still better than allowing him to walk as a free agent next summer.
If things go this direction, expect plenty of teams to show some interest. The Philadelphia Eagles took a Penn State product from an NFC East rival last year in Saquon Barkley and benefited greatly. Howie Roseman is as opportunistic as any GM, and Philadelphia should be a team to monitor. The Atlanta Falcons have also made a clear effort to upgrade their defensive line, and Parsons would further push this envelope. The Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers are also a few teams where he could make some sense.
For the time being, get your popcorn out and enjoy the show down in Dallas. All signs point toward things getting worse before they get better between these two sides, and we have seen players extend holdouts into the regular season before. With just over a month until the NFL season fully kicks off, time is not on the Cowboys’ side.
