It seems the Dallas Cowboys aren’t saying much regarding Micah Parsons’ resting period during the game.
In the midst of contract discussions that have been a major topic during Cowboys training camp, Parsons caused a stir Friday when he relaxed on an athletic trainer’s table with his eyes shut during the team’s final preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Following the game, head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn’t provide a definite comment, only mentioning he wasn’t very familiar with the situation and would watch the game footage later. He elaborated a bit more Saturday, informing reporters that he intends to communicate with Parsons and handle the issue internally.
Parsons has been absent from the field throughout training camp because of a back ailment, which has happened alongside a public disagreement with team owner Jerry Jones that has intensified each week. He requested a trade at the beginning of the month, and made a “call me” motion to a fan who suggested he join the Falcons before Friday’s game.
He defended his actions, but only by reposting broadcaster Mike Leslie’s claim that he only spent “a relatively brief period of the evening” lying on the trainer’s table. He insisted he would never show disrespect to the players on the field, by resting on the trainer’s table for a prolonged duration, it seems.
The exact boundary is uncertain.
Despite everything, Schottenheimer reaffirmed that he anticipates Parsons to be prepared for the Cowboys’ opening game against Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4. He mentioned that a recent MRI of Parsons’ back showed a “pretty clean” result.
Current State of Micah Parsons and the Cowboys (metaphorically)
Essentially, Parsons spending even a short part of a game lying down with his eyes closed represents a display of resistance during a period when tensions between him and Jones seem to be at their highest.
The Cowboys intend to address Micah Parson’s resting internally. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
(Sam Hodde via Getty Images)
Parsons is entering the last season of his initial contract and seeks a new contract, which is expected to be the highest in NFL history for a player who isn’t a quarterback. Jones has stated that he proposed exactly that to Parsons, but that could have been during a significant March meeting when the benchmark for guaranteed money was Nick Bosa’s $88 million (the new record is T.J. Watt’s $108 million).
Jones has publicly claimed he made a verbal agreement with Parsons during that March meeting, which Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta then refuted. Naturally, if Jones wanted to ensure that he was creating a deal that would be formalized, he probably should have involved the person Parsons hired to negotiate his contract.
Jones has strangely transformed the situation into a debate on the fundamental concept of players having agents represent them and accused Mulugheta, one of the most influential agents in the NFL, of utilizing the Parsons contract for what would be minimal personal gain in the larger context of things.
None of that has seemed to make Jones more appealing to Parsons, who has deleted all mentions of the Cowboys from his social media profiles and shared a few posts suggesting he is very prepared to leave the team over the last few days. Jones seems determined that Parsons honor that supposed March agreement, while Parsons’ contract expectations remain unclear.
