Kumbaya continues to be the public framing of the contract push for Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is attending minicamp at the team’s Frisco, Texas, headquarters to keep his promise to first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Parsons, 26, has 52.5 sacks in four seasons and is reportedly seeking a record-setting $200 million contract before he takes the field for another game.
But after a late-night phone call and homage to a social media trend of men dialing friends to surprise them with a “goodnight” message, Parsons and Schottenheimer appear to be on the same page.
“I know this is weird for everybody, but look, you’re handling everything the right way bro,” Schottenheimer told Parsons on the call recorded by the former Penn State linebacker. “This thing is going to get worked out.”
Parsons is in line to earn approximately $24 million in 2025 on the fifth year option from his original rookie deal.
“We’re building something special and you’re going to be a huge part of it,” Schottenheimer said to Parsons in the TikTok call.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the two sides are in agreement on “most of the issues” in negotiations.
Last summer, the Cowboys were beset with contract matters entering training camp, and Jones said the franchise would like to avoid a repeat. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed training camp entirely before he signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August and entered a short window to upramp for the start of the regular season.
Dallas also made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history with a four-year, $240 million deal and $80 million signing bonus last summer.
Parsons worked out on his own last summer with permission from previous coach Mike McCarthy. But at the end of last season, he discussed the importance of attending workouts, minicamps and training camp.
“I’ve got to be around the guys,” he said. “There’s going to be rookies, there’s going to be free agents — guys that come here — you don’t know who’s going to be there, so there’s a chemistry part and people know what you can do, but people also got to see it from a leader aspect. So I still gotta be there for that part.”
Last season, Parsons dealt with an ankle injury but still recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season.
A Pro Bowl selection in all four pro seasons to date and a three-time All-Pro, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 games (all starts).
–Field Level Media
