OXNARD, Calif. -- The Cowboys conducted their first and only scrimmage of training camp Tuesday against the Los Angeles Rams, and their best pass rusher -- maybe their best player -- watched from the sidelines wearing a white team jersey and gray Penn State sweatpants.
Micah Parsons seemed in good spirits as he continued his hold-in, now at Day 16, as he talked with a few friends from the Rams and Amazon Prime broadcaster and former NFL offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth.
Parsons is seeking a contract extension from the team that employs him, and the man who authorizes the checks around here, team owner Jerry Jones, voiced a sense of urgency about getting that done.
"I stay urgent," he said.
But since Parsons requested a trade last Friday, the team has not spoken to his agent.
In fact, Jones hasn't even talked to Parsons.
"Again, all of that is good," Jones said. "I think the world of Micah. Like I've said, I've had social time with Micah, which isn't always the case, but I have. He's one of the brightest people that I've ever been around and he's very, very talented. Now, how we ultimately meld him into our future is a challenge. I'm built for it and he's built for it."
The Cowboys have their first preseason game Saturday and it's doubtful any of the star players such as Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Smith and George Pickens will participate.
And in some way, the clock starts ticking after that game on when Parsons and the team will finalize a contract.
The season opener is Sept. 4 and Jones didn't sound confident that Parsons will line up in Philadelphia for Week 1.
"Again no. Absolutely not," Jones said when asked if he is confident Parsons will play Week 1. "A big part of that is his decision. How would I know that? I'm just saying, I'm urgent."
The holdup or hold-in with contract talks is a difference of opinion. Jones believes Parsons made a verbal agreement to a contract in March. Parsons said any contract talks must go through his agent, David Mulugheta.
There's a belief in the Cowboys organization that an oral agreement is a finalized deal. In truth, a finalized deal is when you sign the paperwork.
No paperwork has been exchanged between these sides to the point where someone can say, "OK, let's start talking."
The only real talking is on the practice fields with Jones and Parsons, and on social media, where the pass rusher made his trade request.
"Listen, that's part of what we do," Jones said. "We have continuing contract negotiations going on. I know you have Micah in front of mind but we're continuing working on contracts and all clubs are. And I don't necessarily put a big red letter beside [a name] anytime we complete contract negotiations. But I'm appreciative when we do. It's really business as usual."
Earlier Tuesday, the Rams secured the services of running back Kyren Williams to a three-year deal. So Jones is correct, NFL teams are conducting business. On July 27, the Cowboys extended the contract of tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year deal.
You can't say the Cowboys don't sign their own. It happens quite a bit. However, you can say the Cowboys take their time, maybe too much time, when it pertains to securing the contracts of their star players.
This isn't a recent thing either. Emmitt Smith missed the first two games of the 1993 season in a contract dispute. The Cowboys went 0-2 and Jones reached out and got the deal done.
Recently, Prescott, Lamb and the now-retired Zack Martin had to wait for contract extensions or raises. Prescott didn't hold out but got a new deal the morning of the season-opener last year.
Lamb held out and received his contract extension. Martin also held out to get a raise.
Parsons has watched the prolonged contract talks of his teammates from behind the curtain. Now he's on the big stage and pushing for a big deal. His trade request could force the sides to talk, which they haven't, or force trade talks, which haven't started with any team as yet.
All we have are more discussions about when a deal might get done and whether Parsons will be on the field in the NFL season opener.
"We'll work through it or we'll not work through it," Jones said.