Could edge rusher Micah Parsons be the odd man out after the Dallas Cowboys paid quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last offseason?
If he is, Parsons doesn’t seem too worried about it.
‘I understand how the business side goes,’ he said when asked about the trade speculation on Sunday, per The Athletic. ‘There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else. Obviously I’ve stated that I wanted to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.’
At the NFL Honors awards show in February, Parsons told NFL.com, ‘I hope I’m a Cowboy for life.’
Sunday’s comments made Parsons appear a little more accepting of a potential move away from Dallas. He seemed at peace with his uncertain future.
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‘I’ve put in a lot of work, I’ve played hard too, so obviously if sides can’t agree to those type of things, it happens like that,’ Parsons said. ‘But I’m just happy to be here. I’m just gonna keep playing hard while I’m here. If I’m here for the next 5-6 years, I’m gonna keep playing hard then too. Ain’t nothing really gonna make a difference, Micah is gonna play hard.’
Stephen Jones comments on Parsons’ potential payday
Earlier on Sunday, NFL Network reported that Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said the team might have to rethink how it allocates money.
‘I think that’s a balancing act that you always got to look at,’ Jones said. ‘Especially when your good, good players get hurt and are not on the field…You’re going to say ‘God, are we smart having this much money tied in to the top five to 10 players?’
‘Obviously we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee, but after that, then you still shape things, including Micah,’ Jones said.
Jones did go on to say later that he ‘can’t imagine there’s a scenario’ in which Parsons, a three-time Pro Bowler in his three years in the league, ends up on a team other than the Cowboys.
Micah Parsons stats
Parsons missed four games earlier this season after sustaining a high ankle sprain. In the 10 games he’s played, he’s been his usual, dominant self.
That’s been especially true since his return from injury. He’s tallied 7.5 sacks in his last six games alone, bringing his total up to 8.5 on the year.
Here’s how Parsons’ numbers look after Week 15:
Tackles: 31
Tackles for loss: 8
Sacks: 8.5
Passes defensed: 1
Forced fumbles: 1