Micah Parsons 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, Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers has opened up about the tragic death of Marshawn Kneeland, and his words are sending shockwaves across the league. Following the devastating news of
Parsons, who briefly played alongside Kneeland during his Dallas Cowboys days, 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
"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"
Parsons’ 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, Parsons' powerful words are raising serious questions about the emotional cost of playing professional football.
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.
As the Packers aim to push for a win on Monday night, all eyes will be on
No Stroud, No Problem? Why Nico Collins Could Torch Defenses Anyway
Conventional wisdom would say that with Davis Mills getting the start at quarterback for the Houston Texans this Sunday, an already so-so passing attack would potentially go into hibernation in Week 10. Theoretically, the recipe for victory for the 3-5 Texans would be to rely on the run game and the competency of one of the league's top defenses in order to get out with a much-needed win.
But football fans know all too well that conventional wisdom doesn't always prevail on gameday, and this could be a case where that proves to be true, because even with the circumstances being what they are, it feels like Texans leading receiver Nico Collins could be in for a huge day against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday afternoon.
After posting back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in 2023 and 2024, Collins is on pace to fall short of that mark in 2025. Chalk that up to CJ Stroud's inconsistencies or the growing pains associated with adjusting to a new offensive coordinator in Nick Caley, but either way, we've yet to see a vintage Nico Collins game this season... well, except for the last time these two teams played.
Back in Week 3 against Jacksonville, Nico Collins notched his only 100 yard game of the season thus far, finishing with 8 receptions for 104 yards and Houston's lone touchdown in a 17-10 loss that dropped the Texans to 0-3 on the year. But since then, Collins is averaging just 4 receptions and 58 receiving yards per game.
However, Collins' production -- or lack thereof -- is not necessarily an indication of what's to come. It could be a warning of what's about to change, because Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans knows that in order for this offense to reach its potential, Collins needs more than just 4 touches per game.
"I mean, we want to get the ball to our best players, right?," Ryans said during an interview earlier this week on Texans Radio. "We got to find a way to get Nico the ball even more. I feel like we could have got it to him on the outside more (last week), just giving him more shots downfield."
The Jaguars could be the exact opponent to take those shots down the field against. Thus far this season, Jacksonville has allowed the 6th-most passing yards and the 4th-most passing touchdowns. Yes, the Jags have also recorded 11 interceptions, the 2nd-most in the league, but this is a defense that has proven to be susceptible to damage through the air. Now it's just a matter of if the Texans truly feel comfortable letting Davis Mills air it out.
Even with that uncertainty, fantasy experts seem to be in lockstep regarding Nico Collins' output this week... the expectation is that Collins is a must-start in Week 10.
According to ESPN's consensus rankings, Collins is the 8th-ranked receiver this week, ahead of the likes of Emeka Egbuka, Zay Flowers and Ladd McConkey. Meanwhile, NFL.com's Michael Florio lists Collins as his top 'Start 'Em' wide receiver of the week, saying the following about the 26-year-old wideout:
"He has also gone over 100 yards in his last four games against Jacksonville, averaging 24.7 fantasy PPG in those contests," Florio writes. "The Jags have allowed the fifth-most yards and second-most touchdowns to outside receivers, which is where Collins runs over 80 percent of his routes. Even withDavis Mills in line to start for the Texans, you should start Collins."
That's all I needed to hear.
