Mailbag: Does Micah take a bigger leadership role? 

(Editor's Note: Time to check the mail! The DallasCowboys.com staff writers answer your questions here in 'Mailbag' presented by Miller Lite.)

We're hearing a lot about Micah Parsons needing to show more leadership to go with his upcoming long-term contract. Is that fair? Seems to me that leadership is something you have, it's a part of your DNA. Some are leaders, others are not and it's not a choice. What if Parsons just isn't a true leader? Is it fair to ask him to be one? – Jeff Cedarfield/Canton, CT

Nick: The first thing that comes to mind when you ask if it's fair to expect that from Micah is a line that Jason Garrett used to say quite often: "It comes with the dinner."

Yes, of course you would expect Micah Parsons to show more leadership if the team is going to make him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. There's more than just "get to the quarterback." But we all know that's the reason he's getting that money. So let's not lose sight of that part.

I think everyone understands, including Micah, what needs to happen in order for him to not only get this huge contract, but to live up to it. He has to be the dynamic superstar he's been on the field, and even better in the crucial moments. He has to help the younger players see what it takes to reach that level and give them any kind of guidance he can to reach their highest level.

I just don't worry about who's being a leader and who isn't. We see guys like Ray Lewis and Michael Irvin yell and scream at their teammates in encouraging, motivational ways and we call that leadership. Let's be honest, if they didn't have Gold Jackets I don't know if we'd call them that. So Micah has to continue to do the things that makes him a great player. But the Cowboys have given some huge contracts to players in the past who were never leaders.

Kurt: This situation reminds me of what our local Texas Rangers faced several years back. Michael Young was not only an All-Star player, he was also an amazing leader. Literally one of the best. When he left, though, many assumed that Ian Kinsler, an All-Star in his own right, would assume the mantle of team leader.

But Kinsler later admitted he wasn't comfortable in that role. He was a good on-field leader, but there were other aspects, such as teaching younger guys about life in the pros, that even he said he wasn't good at and really didn't want to be responsible for.

So, as you mention, we have to be careful about thrusting leadership onto a player who maybe isn't really the right fit. However, the difference here with Parsons is that he's publicly stated several times that he is a leader and wants to be the Cowboys' leader.

And like Kinsler, I think we've already seen that Parsons can be a strong leader on the field, but the question still to be answered is, can he be the voice in the locker room off the field? Will he know when to push a teammate or comfort him? Will he set an example in the dog days of training camp? Will he deal effectively with the outside noises, like fans or the media? There's a lot that goes into being a leader.

Turning back to the Rangers, there was another All-Star player many more years ago who publicly made it clear that he was the team's leader. But behind the scenes, when the going got tough, the players actually turned to another teammate for guidance. That may be where Parsons is today. We've heard he wants to be a leader, and I think he can be a good one. But it's what he does behind the scenes that will truly decide if he is.