After cementing the Dallas Cowboys in the thick of the media cycle following the August 19 Netflix release of America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys, longtime owner Jerry Jones headlined the front page once again less than 10 days later. The Cowboys’ relationship with star linebacker Micah Parsons had turned sour at the beginning of August when Parsons posted a long discourse on Instagram.
“Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here,” Parsons said.
He subsequently unfollowed the Cowboys and his teammates on social media.
It was the culmination of a yearlong saga between an owner and star player. Public displays of dissatisfaction from players have become the most effective way to resolve disputes — often resulting in a new contract or a trade — in a league increasingly motivated by public negotiation and player leverage.
Shortly after the trade request, Jones stated the team would not trade Parsons, according to ESPN insiders.
In March, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garret reset the market for non-quarterback contracts, inking a four-year, $160 million extension. Parsons, only the second player in NFL history to register 12 or more sacks in his first four seasons, felt he deserved to reset the market once again. Garrett was 29 when he signed; Parsons is 26.
Earlier in the offseason, Jones offered Parsons a five-year deal worth $40.5 million per season, totaling $202.5 million. The one problem was that he offered it to Parsons directly, without his agent present to mediate. According to the NFL Players Association’s collective bargaining agreement, that’s not supposed to happen.
The Cowboys currently hold a $13 billion valuation, the highest of any North American sports franchise, according to USA Today. Their quarterback, 32-year-old Dak Prescott, signed a four-year, $240 million extension last September. Their window to win is now, and Parsons was expected to headline the defense.
The saga suddenly came to a close last week. Parsons was dealt to the Green Bay Packers for a pair of first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. As part of the deal, Parsons agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with the Packers, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Jones purchased the Cowboys’ in 1989; from that moment, he has served as the team’s owner, president, and general manager. He is currently the only owner to also serve as general manager. The Cowboys have not made an NFC Championship appearance in 30 years.
Coming off a Wild Card loss to the eventually Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers are taking a huge swing. The last time a team traded two first-round picks for a player was in 2020, when the Seattle Seahawks traded the Jets two firsts for safety Jamal Adams. A year prior, the Chicago Bears traded two firsts to the then Oakland Raiders for Khalil Mack, a consensus top defensive player who took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016.
The Adams trade is widely regarded as an overpay, while the Mack trade helped propel the Bears into an elite defense at the beginning of the decade.
This seismic shift for Parsons continues a trend for Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst. Before Gutekunst, the Packers were known for building within. They drafted, developed, and paid homegrown players, sparingly signing big-name free agents or swinging league-altering trades. Just last offseason, the Packers signed running back Josh Jacobs to a four-year $48 million deal and inked safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year $67 million contract. Jacobs rushed for over 1,300 yards in his first season, while McKinney was named a first-team All-Pro for the Green and Gold.
“I don’t think there’s much that he can’t do,” Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur said of Parsons in a press conference. “It’s just how do [we] get him acclimated to what we’re doing so we can let that creativity come out.”
Due to ongoing contract negotiations, Parsons did not participate in training camp with the Cowboys. During this time, he was also nursing a L4-L5 facet joint sprain in his back.
On Monday, Parsons practiced for the first time this offseason with the Packers, although he was a limited participant. If everything goes to plan, Parsons is expected to suit up on Sunday night for a primetime Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Despite losing Parsons, Jones exudes confidence that the move will set the franchise up for future success.
“[I’m feeling] nothing at all in terms of regret,” Jones said following the trade. “You’re asking if I regret, no, I don’t regret that at all. I’m very, very excited about the prospects of what we’ve done for the Cowboys here. I wouldn’t have done it. I had total control over being able to have it the other way. So, I’m excited. We got what we wanted.”
The NFL offseason has long been filled with trade requests from superstar players. More often than not, it’s all noise. Parsons’ relationship had soured to a point where there was nothing to be done. Dallas was able to manage a large return, although many believe they could have netted even more assets or draft capital.
In four seasons, Parsons’ production has been unprecedented. The Penn State product has registered 256 tackles, 52.5 sacks, 112 quarterback hits, and nine forced fumbles while being named to the All-Pro team three times.
“My plan is to be here,” Parsons said. “[The Packers] didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that, so I’m going to give them my all.”
