The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up preseason action on Friday night with a 31-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. With all the starters sitting out, the main story coming out of the game wasn’t the on-field performance of guys fighting for rosters spots. Star edge defender Micah Parsons was spotted lying on a training table at one point, and rumors began to swirl.
“In the interest of clarity (and fairness) — Micah Parsons was not laying on the training table all night,” said reporter Mike Leslie after the game, referring to the photos of Parsons that had gone viral. “In fact, that was only a relatively short portion of the evening.”
As photos of Parsons lying on the table began circulating online last night, misinformation spread, and fans believed he was on the table for most of the game. Leslie corrected this narrative, and Parsons shared his appreciation.
“I actually appreciate this,” Parsons responded. “The way media shapes perception and narratives is wild—and if he hadn’t said anything, everyone would’ve just run with it. I’d never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives.”
Micah Parsons and Cowboys Still Far Apart on New Deal
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones hasn’t been shy at all when discussing Parsons’ contract negotiations with the media. On Friday, he said the Cowboys had offered Parsons the “highest-paid guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL,” per ESPN’s Todd Archer. He also claimed Parsons’ agent told them to “stick it up our ass,” when he tried to send over the contract details.
Regardless if Jones is sharing the full story or not, it’s clear the relationship between the two sides has degraded significantly in recent months. Once, it was unimaginable that Parsons would suit up for another team. Now, in many ways, it feels like an inevitability. Stars of Parsons’ caliber almost never hit the open market, but perhaps the Cowboys would feel the need to trade him if a new deal can’t be reached.
Dallas Cowboys’ Season Opener is Less Than Two Weeks Away
The 2025 NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 4, when the Dallas Cowboys visit the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to start us off with an old divisional rivalry. That’s just 12 days away from the time of this writing, and time is running out for Parsons to return to the field.
Parsons seems pretty dug in at the moment, and Jones and the Cowboys don’t seem any more willing to budge in the negotiations. After a disappointing and injury-riddled 2024 season, Dallas will look to bounce back with a new head coach and a (hopefully) healthier roster.
But without Parsons in the fold, it’ll be tough to do that. He’s arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, and certainly on his team. The Cowboys’ defense takes a big hit when he’s not out there, and they’ll need him wreaking havoc off the edge to get where they want to go this season.
