Micah Parsons
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Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer issued a strong message after Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers
The Dallas Cowboys‘ long-running contract dispute with Micah Parsons came to a shocking end earlier this week when the superstar linebacker was traded to the Green Bay Packers. In return, the Cowboys received a pair of first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark, but it’s clear that the sting of losing Parsons has infuriated fans.
For many folks, expectations for Dallas in the upcoming season have taken a hit, thanks in large part to them no longer having their best defensive player at their disposal. And yet, when asked about the situation, Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it clear that his goals for the 2025 campaign have not changed.
Brian Schottenheimer Dishes on Micah Parsons Trade
All offseason long, Parsons had made it clear he was looking for a contract extension from the Cowboys. Considering how he was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract and has already established himself as one of the most disruptive defenders in the league, it’s safe to say that his desire for a new deal was very reasonable.
Instead, Jerry Jones and the front office played hardball with Parsons and his negotiations, and it eventually led to him requesting a trade. For much of the summer, the overarching presumption was that Parsons would not get dealt and that the two sides would eventually return to the negotiating table and get something done.
That never happened, and with the regular season set to kick off next week, the Cowboys cut bait and sent Parsons to the Packers. Losing a player of his caliber, especially at this point in the year, is a devastating blow for a Dallas team that desperately needs something to feel good about. And while Schottenheimer understands that losing Parsons will hurt his team, he also believes that there’s no reason to change their goals for 2025.
“Nothing has changed,” Schottenheimer said when speaking with reporters on Friday. “My goals haven’t changed. Our team goals haven’t changed. I hit the players on that today after I talked about the tough couple of days for all of the guys. It doesn’t change. The standard is the standard. With all the new pieces and people we had in there, I needed to hit the goal, which is to win a world championship.”
Can the Cowboys Win Without Micah Parsons?
Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys.
GettyMicah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys.
In his first four NFL seasons, Parsons has been selected to the Pro Bowl every year, while also earning a pair of All-Pro First Team selections and the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. With 52.5 sacks over those four campaigns, Parsons has simply been a force to be reckoned with, and while his four-year, $186 million contract extension with the Packers is massive, it’s a deal he likely will end up being worth when all is said and done.
For the Cowboys, replacing Parsons’ production is going to be a nearly impossible task. Getting a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive tackle in Clark helps, but it’s tough to measure how big an impact Parsons had on Dallas’ defense. Schottenheimer should be able to keep this team competitive, but at the end of the day, their hopes of winning a Super Bowl this year have likely been dashed.