The Dallas Cowboys front office (featuring Jerry and Stephen Jones) is notoriously known for playing hardball - well, let's call it "slow-ball'' - when it comes time to pay their superstars.
Last offseason, the talk of the entire summer was the looming contract extensions of CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. Both received extensions from Dallas prior to the start of the regular season.
The players won the negotiations. But it took time.
However, Lamb and Prescott went about getting their money differently. Prescott (who got $60 million per year) was present during training camp and continued to practice, but Lamb (who got $35 million) held out to force the hands of the Cowboys.
Superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons is up for a new deal and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
How will Parsons go about negotiations this summer? Will he skip training camp like Lamb or be there for his teammates?
According to his brother Terrence Parsons Jr, Micah has a plan.
“Micah will be at camp,” Terrence Parsons posted on X.
Good ... because as the NFL released the Dallas schedule on Wednesday, it is clear that getting off to a good start is all-important.
And that can't happen if Micah isn't fully ready to roll.
Check it out ...
Week 1: at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday, Sept. 4)
Week 2: vs. New York Giants
Week 3: at Chicago Bears
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 5: at New York Jets
Week 6: at Carolina Panthers
Week 7: vs. Washington Commanders
Week 8: at Denver Broncos
Week 9: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday, Nov. 27 Thanksgiving)
Week 14: at Detroit Lions
Week 15: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 16: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 17: at Washington Commanders (Thurday, Dec. 25 Christmas)
Week 18: at New York Giants
Dallas needs Micah ... right from the start.
One would think the Cowboys wouldn’t play with their food and just sign one of the best players in the entire league - with CowboysCountry.com having reported that a five-year, $200 million deal is the centerpiece of Micah's talks with Jerry - but Cowboys Nation knows how this front office operates.
They drag their feet and end up paying a greater premium due to procrastination.
And, in fairness, agents and players take their time as well, armed with the knowledge that the waiting game pays off as salaries are always on the rise.
The good news is that Micah Parsons will apparently be in Oxnard when the Cowboys open camp, which is paramount given the roster and coaching staff changes.
And it's important, because time in Oxnard will in a good way bleed over into trying to win at Philadelphia in Week 1 and beyond.