Cowboys Blocked Eagles From $188M Edge Rusher With Secret Trade Clause
Just because the Dallas Cowboys didn’t want NFL All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to play for them anymore didn’t mean they didn’t still want to have a say over his future — specifically when it came to having him ever play for their hated rival the Philadelphia Eagles.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys included a “Poison Pill” clause when they traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in August that included language intended to block him from playing for the Eagles until at least 2027.
The Cowboys traded Parsons for Green Bay’s 2026 and 2027 first round picks and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The Packers immediately signed Parsons to a 4-year, $188 million contract extension that made him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history and included $136 million in guaranteed money.
“The previously unreported condition states that if the Packers decide to trade Parsons to a team in the NFC East division — the Eagles tried to trade for him last summer before being rebuffed — then Green Bay would owe Dallas its 2028 first-round draft pick, sources involved in the trade told ESPN,” Schefter wrote on Sunday, November 9. ” … League sources said these poison pill conditions clearly and smartly were put into place to block Parsons from winding up in Philadelphia, not far from where he grew up and one day wanted to play. The poison pill conditions apply to this season and 2026, according to sources, meaning the Packers don’t have a clear path to trade Parsons to another NFC East team until 2027 at the earliest..”
Parsons and the Packers face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in a marquee Monday Night Football matchup in Week 10.
Blockbuster Trade After Contentious Summer
Trading Parsons to the Packers elevated them to becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders and seems to have relegated the Cowboys to also-rans, and he leads the NFL in QB pressures and leads the Cowboys with 6.5 sacks.
Parsons is one of only 2 players in NFL history with at least 12.0 sacks in each of his first 4 seasons along with the late Reggie White, who started his career with the Eagles before leaving for the Packers in free agency.
The trade came after a summer in which Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones went back and forth bickering publicly.
“ESPN Sources: Cowboys are trading three-time All-Pro LB Micah Packers to the Green Bay Packers,” Schefter wrote on his official X account on August 28. “Parsons and the Packers already have reached agreement on a four-year, $188 million contract. David Mulugheta of Athletes First had a hand in the trade and ultimately negotiating the record-breaking contract that includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and makes Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.”
Parsons, 26 years old, was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft and is a 3-time NFL All-Pro and 4-time Pro Bowler through the first 4 seasons.
The Cowboys are 3-6-1 and have the 31st ranked defense in the NFL.
“Thank you Dallas ….. GO Pack Go!” Parsons wrote on his official X account following the trade.
Puka Nacua Breaks Silence: “NFL Doesn’t Care About Your Pain — You Have to Play Anyway”
In an emotional revelation that’s shaking the NFL to its core, Puka Nacua of the
Nacua, who briefly played alongside Kneeland during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, called the loss of his former teammate “devastating” and a stark reminder of the unspoken pressure NFL players face. But it wasn’t just about the grief — it was about the expectation to perform no matter what:
"Everyone thinks the NFL is just about football. But the truth is, they don’t care what you're feeling. They just expect you to show up and play. We’re told to shut off our emotions, but that’s not realistic. I feel like we’re not allowed to grieve the loss of a brother because we have to get ready for a game. That’s the cold reality of this league."
A Wake-Up Call to Fans: "We're Not Machines"
Nacua’s shocking admission sheds light on the emotional toll that NFL players endure, often sacrificing their own mental well-being for the sake of the game. As the
"We’ve got to put our feelings aside for the fans, for our coaches, and for our teammates. But losing someone like Marshawn—it’s like losing a brother. It’s not just a game. People don’t understand how much time we spend with each other, and now I have to focus on beating the Eagles while mourning my friend. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do."
A Brotherhood in Crisis?
As the NFL grapples with the tragic loss of Kneeland, Nacua's powerful words are raising serious questions about the emotional cost of playing professional football.
Is the NFL a family, or is it a brutal machine that demands players sacrifice everything — including their emotions — for the game? The death of Kneeland is only the latest in a long line of heart-wrenching moments that show just how much players endure off the field.
