“Thank you Dallas.” | Parsons posted a note to Cowboys fans on social media.
DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons has officially requested a trade after posting a note to his social media pages Friday afternoon.
“Thank you Dallas,” Parsons simply captioned his message.
Parsons said in his note he wanted to be in Dallas and he did everything he could to show he wanted to be a Cowboys and wear the star on his helmet. The Cowboys were the team he and his father grew up cheering for, Parsons said in his note.
“Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here,” Parsons said. “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.”
Parsons was entering the final year of his five-year rookie contract, but things seemingly turned sour after Jerry Jones’ comments on the contract negotiations during his training camp press conference opener.
“Just because we sign him, doesn’t mean we’re going to have him. He was hurt six games last year, seriously,” Jones said. “I remember signing a player for the highest paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year, Dak Prescott, so there’s a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does when you’re thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.”
Two-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt responded to Jones’ remarks.
“Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you,” Watt wrote on social media. Parsons then reposted Watt’s comments on X.
Cowboys insider Ed Werder reported, per source, that Parsons “has no intention of leaving training camp and incurring $50,000 in daily fines as mandated by the NFL.”
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb posted to X, expressing frustration with the Cowboys front office.
“Never fails dawg. Just pay the man, what you owe em,” Lamb said. “No need for the extra curricular.”
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant also reacted on X, saying he respected Parsons standing his ground. The news broke during player availability for Cowboys training camp on Friday. WFAA’s Mike Leslie asked cornerback Kaiir Elam about the announcement. Elam said he had learned about that in the moment and he had no comment about Parsons’ contract negotiation stalemate.
“Obviously, you want the best for the team and Micah has been a great dude since I’ve been here. I loved watching him play when I wasn’t on this team. Obviously guys are going to do what’s in their best interest, but for me, I’m focused on the team and getting better. That’s all,” Elam said.
Parsons’ trade request came hours after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported his relationship with the Cowboys had “deteriorated to the point where the star pass rusher is considering drastic measures which could include a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team.”
Dallas drafted Parsons No. 12 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 and has been a three-time All-Pro (first team in 2021, 2022; second team in 2023) and four-time Pro Bowler. Parsons is one of only two players in NFL history to get a dozen-plus sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons – the other was Hall of Famer Reggie White.
What kind of trade compensation could the Cowboys get if they chose to honor Parsons’ trade request?
A potential trade comp, as noted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, was when 27-year-old Khalil Mack got traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears (Parsons is 26 years old), the Bears gave up two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick for Mack, a second-round pick, and a conditional fifth-round pick in return.