It hurts too much to think about, but it is dumbfounding that Micah Parsons still doesn't have a new contract. The latest reports suggest Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys still haven't reached out to Parsons' agent since he requested a trade nearly two weeks ago.
While this saga will likely end with Parsons signing a record-setting extension, there is absolutely zero benefit to dragging it out this long.
Ever candid with his analysis of his former team, Cowboys legend Troy Aikman didn't mince words about the Parsons debacle on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast. Here's what Aikman said when play-by-play man Joe Buck asked how Dallas can be great without Parsons.
"Well you can't be. That's his leverage. His leverage is they can't win without him. ... Without Micah Parsons I just don't think they're going to be able to slow anybody down. He's a total game-wrecker, he's proven that, and he's certainly worth every penny he's ultimately going to get paid."
Cowboys legend Troy Aikman sounds off on Jerry Jones' handling of Micah Parsons' contract
That is exactly what makes this so aggravating.
The Cowboys would be a bottom-five defense without Parsons. They might even be the worst defense in football. While they have other star-caliber players like Osa Odigzhiwua, DaRon Bland, DeMarvion Overshown and Trevon Diggs who are all capable of turning a game on its head, Parsons is the nucleus. The defense goes as he goes.
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At worst, Parsons is the third-best pass rusher in the league. Only Browns phenom Myles Garrett is definitively better. With 12.0 sacks last season, Parsons joined Hall of Famer Reggie White, one of the most prolific pass rushers in NFL history, as the only players with 12 or more sacks in each of their first four seasons.
Giving Parsons a second contract should be the easiest decision Jones has ever made. The two-time All-Pro was open to negotiating a deal last offseason, and was even willing to get it out of the way before free agency this offseason to give the front office maximum spending flexibility.
And yet, the Cowboys play the defending champion Eagles to kick off the regular season in just 16 days and Parsons is still showing up to practice without a helmet.
It’s worth noting that CeeDee Lamb didn’t sign until Aug. 26 last year, and Dak Prescott had to wait until the regular season opener to finalize his extension. A similar timeline could unfold with Parsons, and it better, because as Aikman laid out, this team has no shot at contending if No. 11 isn’t suited and booted.
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