The preseason for the Dallas Cowboys has concluded — now the focus shifts in a new direction for Micah Parsons.
At 4:35 p.m. CT, approximately two and a half hours prior to the kickoff of Friday night’s preseason closing match against the Atlanta Falcons, Parsons strolled down the corridor to the Cowboys’ locker room while munching on nachos. An Atlanta supporter on a stadium tour yelled to him, “Join the Falcons,” which led Parsons to gesture a ‘call me’ sign to his ears.
As he neared the entrance to the locker room, he repeated a similar motion as fans roared in his support.
Throughout the game, Parsons was the sole player to not don a jersey on the sidelines. He opted instead for a navy hoodie with gray sleeves and a winter hat. As the Cowboys’ offense advanced the ball at the beginning of the third quarter, Parsons reclined on the medical table positioned behind the bench.
Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer stated that he was unaware of Parsons’ actions because “I was focused on calling the game.”
“In the end, we’ll review the footage and consult with everyone involved to gain a solid understanding of our performance both on and off the field,” Schottenheimer mentioned.
Following the game, Parsons — who has removed all mentions of the Cowboys from his social media — responded to a post on X highlighting that he was only resting on the medical table for a short time.
“I genuinely appreciate this,” Parsons stated in his social media reply. “The way the media crafts perceptions and stories is astonishing—and if he hadn’t said anything, everyone would have just taken it and run with it. I would never show disrespect to the guys out there battling hard.”
Parsons chose not to address inquiries after the Cowboys’ 31-13 victory, but cornerback Trevon Diggs stepped in to respond for him, mentioning that Parsons had an MRI on his back that Friday.
During the minicamp in June and at the beginning of training camp, Parsons indicated he was experiencing tightness in his back. He underwent treatment in Oxnard, California, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones suggested that the back tightness was akin to the trade request – merely part of the negotiations for a long-term agreement.
When questioned about Parsons’ potential participation against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, Diggs replied, “It all hinges on how his back feels. I know he was really sore this morning. He went in for an evaluation. That’s the most recent update I have from him.”
Over the last couple of days, Jones expressed admiration for Parsons and suggested that the agreement he believes they reached in March would have included the most substantial guaranteed money ever offered to a non-quarterback. However, Jones also recounted on Michael Irvin’s YouTube Channel that when the Cowboys tried to relay the specifics to Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, they were met with a response to “stick it up our ass.”
Regardless of whether that was an exact statement or not, there have been no discussions about contract offers between the Cowboys and Mulugheta, and it seems the team is prepared for Parsons to compete this season under the fifth-year option of his initial contract for an amount of $21.324 million.
“I hope that everything could be resolved and managed,” Diggs remarked. “He is one of our key players. He represents the spirit of this team. I truly wish the situation were different. I wish the conditions had been more favorable, but in the end, everyone must prioritize their own interests. I believe we should trust in God to sort it out for all of us.”
Parsons did not participate in practice throughout the summer as he held in while the Cowboys were in California and missed the two practices conducted at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. He engaged in walk-throughs and attended meetings, including one right before the preseason game finale on Friday.
The Cowboys will start gearing up for the opener on September 4 once the final roster cuts occur on Tuesday. They plan to hold their first practice after finalizing the roster on August 29. After a day off, practices are scheduled from August 31 to September 2 before traveling to Philadelphia the day prior to the match.
Earlier this week, Schottenheimer voiced his assurance that Parsons would take the field against the Eagles.
In light of the events from the last two days, does Schottenheimer still feel certain?
“I do,” he responded.
