The existing situation in negotiations between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys — or the absence thereof — does not clearly indicate that Parsons will participate in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, Dak Prescott remains optimistic. The Cowboys quarterback has personally navigated drawn-out negotiations with team owner Jerry Jones on several instances. He expresses confidence that an agreement will be reached to secure Parsons’ presence on the field for Week 1.
Prescott addressed reporters on Monday afternoon, focusing on the extended impasse between the Cowboys and their highly regarded pass rusher.
“I am confident,” Prescott stated regarding the likelihood of a deal, according to reporter Clarence Hill Jr. “I conveyed this to everyone previously. My confidence stems from my own past experiences, similar to this situation.”
Prescott has been involved in two complex contract negotiations with the Cowboys since the team drafted him in 2016. Both culminated in valuable long-term contract extensions.
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Initially, the Cowboys and Prescott didn’t finalize a deal upon the conclusion of his rookie contract, resulting in him playing under a $31.4 million franchise tag in 2020. The subsequent spring, Prescott committed to a four-year, $160 million extension, featuring a record $75 million for its inaugural season. Prescott officially signed the agreement one day before the NFL’s franchise tag deadline in 2021.
Dak Prescott has experienced comparable situations with Jerry Jones previously.
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During negotiations last offseason, both Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb underwent significant, late-summer negotiation processes, which resulted in Lamb’s holding out.
Both players ultimately reached agreements. Prescott finalized his deal mere hours before Dallas’ regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns. The outcome was a four-year, $240 million extension, securing the highest annual salary in NFL history.
Could Jerry Jones be attempting to generate attention?
A consistent pattern is apparent. Jerry Jones tends to push negotiations to the very edge, frequently prolonging them until the hours preceding, and sometimes even beyond, critical deadlines.
Jones also demonstrates a tendency to create headlines, regardless of their positive or negative nature. He seemingly believes that any publicity, even unfavorable publicity, benefits the Cowboys. He expressed this sentiment earlier in the month while promoting a Netflix documentary about the team.
“If we’re not receiving attention, I will contribute to ensuring we do,” Jones explained. … “The Cowboys are continuously in the spotlight, all year round. In slower periods, I will amplify the attention.”
“Having exceptional athletes and players is fantastic, but there’s an additional element involved: intensity, emotion, and even controversy. Controversy is useful for maintaining and securing public interest.”
Jones has undoubtedly created attention with the Parsons’ negotiations. And he has secured attention. An example would be the article you are currently reading.
Could Jones be prolonging the Parsons’ negotiations to generate publicity? While it seems imprudent considering the potential impact on the Cowboys’ performance and the risk to his relationship with his star player.
Nonetheless, the possibility cannot be entirely dismissed.
