ARLINGTON, Texas – The last 48 hours have been interesting in an already headline-filled back and forth between the Cowboys and All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.
On Thursday, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones spoke to Michael Irvin in an interview on his YouTube channel where he gave more details on the negotiations between he and Parsons that occurred earlier in March. He added that the offered Parsons the most guaranteed money in NFL history for a non-QB, and that Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, was getting in the way of a deal.
In what appeared to be a response, Parsons posted the bible verse Micah 7:8 on X, which reads "Even if I fall, I will rise; the Lord is my light."
And so, all eyes turned to Friday night's preseason finale between the Cowboys and Falcons. Would Parsons be in attendance? The answer was yes, as he walked into the building with nachos in hand and acknowledged a group of fans outside the locker room.
The next question was whether or not Parsons would once again wear his jersey like he did the week before during pregame warmups and the game. That answer was no, as Parsons wore a Cowboys hoodie on the bench, and even spent a few minutes laying down on one of the team's medical tables during the game.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about Parsons' actions after the game.
"No," Schottenheimer said when asked if the things like Parsons not wearing a jersey and laying on the table mattered to him. "I was calling the game so I don't know any of that stuff. 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."
Does he still think Parsons will play in 13 days against the Eagles?
"I do." Schottenheimer said.
A few hours after the game concluded, Parsons took to social media again and responded to a post that clarified he didn't spend the entire game laying on the medical table, and only a few minutes.
"I actually appreciate this," Parsons said. "The way media shapes perception and narratives is wild—and if he hadn't said anything, everyone would've just run with it. I'd never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives."
With the preseason in the books, now time is ticking for plenty of aspects of the Parsons-Cowboys situation. Will a deal be done before September 4? Will Parsons play Week 1 without a new extension? All that will be determined before, or maybe even on, September 4 when the Cowboys open the NFL season on Thursday Night Football against the reigning Super Bowl champs.
