Micah Parsons’ contract dispute with the Cowboys reached a new level Friday during Dallas’ preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
The star linebacker didn’t wear a jersey and was seen lying on a medical table during the game.
Parsons took to social media on Saturday to defend himself after WFAA’s Mike Leslie pointed out that the star pass-rusher wasn’t lying down for the entire game.
“The way media shapes perception and narratives is wild —and if he hadn’t said anything, everyone would’ve just run with it," Parsons posted to X. “I’d never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about the behavior after the Cowboys’ 31-13 win over Atlanta.
“I was calling the game so I don’t know any of that stuff,” he told reporters. “At the end of the day, we’ll look at the film and we’ll talk to everybody involved and we’ll have a great assessment of how we did both on and off the field.”
The following day, Schottenheimer said on a conference call that he needed to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it. He added everything would be handled internally.
Parsons requested a trade out of Dallas earlier this month, saying he no longer wants to be with the Cowboys. The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his contract.
The announcement came hours after The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Parsons could seek a trade. A key issue was that Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke directly over the offseason, but the team felt the conversations were negotiations, while Parsons felt it was just a conversation because he wanted his agent to handle any and all contract talks.
In the offseason, Jones admitted that while he was talking directly to Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, he didn’t know his name. That caught the attention of Parsons.
Parsons was drafted No. 12 overall by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft. He instantly became a force for Dallas, amassing 52.5 sacks in his first four seasons. The 26-year-old also has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his four seasons, and is a two-time First-Team All-Pro.
Despite everything surrounding Parsons, Schottenheimer believes the linebacker will play in Week 1.
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