It is officially defcon one for the Dallas Cowboys.
All-world defender Micah Parsons has drawn a line in the sand against Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, and has demanded a trade.
Parsons put out a statement on Friday afternoon, informing the Cowboys that he would like to be traded after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a new contract extension.
“Yes I wanted to be here,” Parsons wrote. “I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet. I wanted to play in front of the best fans in sports and make this America’s team once again.
“The team my pops and I grew up cheering for way up in Harrisburg, PA. Unfortunately, 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.
“I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done.”
Parsons goes on to explain his side of the negotiations, where things fell apart, and the lack of trust and miscommunication he felt was displayed.
He closed his statement with, “I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.”
In other words, it’s doomsday in Big D.
Parsons is looking for a record-breaking extension, but Jones and his $17 billion net worth seem reluctant to open the checkbook and now the all-world defender wants out.
TalkSPORT’s Senior US Reporter Brian Smith points the finger at Jones, and Jones only.
“A total disaster that only Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys could create,” Smith said.
“Micah Parsons can be a lot to do deal with — but he’s easily the Cowboys’ best defender and everything Dallas should want in a superstar. Instead, Jones’ ego has dragged out another easy contract negotiation, and now the Cowboys are getting exactly what they deserve.
“Someone needed to finally stand up to the Cowboys and call Jones’ bluff. Kudos to Parsons for doing what Dak Prescott failed to do. He deserves better than the Cowboys, and he should never back down from this.
“Get out of Dallas and get away from Jerry Jones. Go win a Super Bowl somewhere where you’re wanted and rewarded.”
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went on record to suggest Parsons do something drastic, and that’s sit out the entire season.
“If you’re Micah Parsons, and I don’t think it’s going to come to this, please don’t get me wrong,” Smith said while hedging.
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“But in the interest of discussing his contractual business, I think he’s gotta be willing to sit out the year. Because I think that’s the only language that Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones at this particular moment is going to understand.”
Sitting out the season would be an extremely bold move by Parsons that would see him forfeit his entire $24 million guaranteed salary.
Despite Smith’s suggestion, it does not appear to be a method that Parsons will employ, so a trade request is the route he has now chosen to pursue.
Jones prides himself on being a savvy businessman, even at the ripe age of 82, but this seems like a matter of who is willing to budge first, and Parsons has now put it squarely on the shoulders of Jones. It’s a game of chicken that could very well end up costing the Cowboys their best defender.
One of Dallas’ best players, superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who went through his own circus of negotiations with the Jones family, publicly backed Parsons.
“Never fails dawg. Just pay the man what you owe em. No need for the extra curricular,” Lamb wrote on X.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has reported that Jones and the Cowboys have zero interest in trading Parsons at this time. We’ll see if anything changes.
Since being drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Parsons has 52.5 sacks, which is good for the fifth-most in the league.
He trails only Myles Garrett, T. J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson, and Nick Bosa. Not bad company.
It’s no secret that Jones loves the spotlight, but at a certain point, enough is enough. It’s time to swallow some pride and give Parsons what he wants. Or else he’s out the door.
It will probably be in the range that tops Watt’s $41 million per year and more than Garrett’s $123.3 million in guarantees, and it would be worth every penny.
Meanwhile, the news that broke on Friday has sent Cowboys fans into a spiral, thinking about going into the season without arguably their best player.
“This is going to hurt,” one fan commented on X.
“The Cowboys are a comedy show,” another chimed in.
“Doesn’t Micah Parsons know that Jerry Jones won a Super Bowl 30 years ago and knows what he’s doing,” one more joked.