Superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons requested a trade on Friday, declaring on social media that “I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys.”
Parsons, 26, has not been taking part in on-field activities at training camp while seeking a long-term extension that would make him one of the league’s highest-paid defensive players.
The Athletic reported earlier Friday that the team and the two-time All-Pro are still “far apart” with their contract numbers.
Of course, Parsons could be bluffing to force the Cowboys’ hand, but the language in his lengthy post Friday on X clearly communicated his frustration.
“Yes I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboys and wear the star on my helmet,” Parsons wrote.
“… 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.”
Parsons said his attempts to discuss an extension started after the 2023 season but have repeatedly been met by “radio silence” from the Cowboys.
“Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract,” Parsons wrote. “Not one demand has been made by my agent about money, years or anything else.
“Still I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.”
Parsons is scheduled to earn $24 million this season on his fifth-year option. The 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has recorded double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons and has watched the market for pass rushers explode.
Defensive end Myles Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns. Maxx Crosby inked a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders. T.J. Watt’s extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers was for three years and $123 million. A Parsons extension likely would be in the same ballpark — or more.
Per The Athletic, Parsons and team owner Jerry Jones talked directly in the spring, and the Cowboys believe those conversations were negotiations with a deal for an extension in place. The Parsons’ camp instead portrayed the meetings as talks and not negotiations, and that the Cowboys have declined to negotiate with his agent because team officials believed an agreement already was in place.
Speaking in April at the NFL’s annual league meeting, Jones acknowledged his conversation with Parsons, saying the two spoke for “five or six hours” to work out a long-term extension.
“Most of the issues we are in agreement on. We discussed it all,” Jones said April 1. “But we obviously don’t have an agreement relative to the new contract.”
The Dallas Morning News reported in March that Parsons was seeking a record-setting $200 million contract extension that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Parsons recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season.
A Pro Bowl selection in each of his first four seasons in the league, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 career games (all starts).
–Field Level Media
