In the midst of Dallas Cowboys training camp, quarterback Dak Prescott voiced deep frustration over his teammate Micah Parsons’ unresolved contract situation, bringing into sharp focus a pattern of prolonged negotiations that have become a yearly fixture for elite Cowboys players.
Prescott admitted he reached out to Parsons after the pass rusher formally requested a trade last week.
According to Prescott, his message was simple and candid: “F, man.” He clarified, “It wasn’t ‘F you, Micah,’ or ‘F them. It’s more of a ‘F, this is frustrating for everybody involved.'”
Drawing on his own experience with drawnout negotiations, Prescott sympathized with what Parsons is enduring.
“Not many people, especially here, have been in that position,” Prescott stated, adding that players like himself and Parsons both understand the emotional weight involved. “So I know what that means just to support him.”
Parsons has attended training camp in Oxnard, California, but has refrained from participating in on-field practice while awaiting a contract extension.
Prescott praised Parsons‘ professionalism, saying: “I think Micah is doing a helluva job with being here. He’s a great teammate. He shows up… he wants to be out there practicing and honestly I’m glad he’s not. He can’t do that to himself.”
He reiterated that Parsons has earned a significant contract: “I think he deserves to get paid. He should get paid and ultimately… he will get paid. Hopefully it’s sooner than later.”
A familiar pattern resurfaces at training camp
Prescott lamented that what Parsons is facing is nothing new for Cowboys stars. “I mean, it’s an every year conversation, whether it’s myself, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, now Micah Parsons. It’s part of it in a sense. Is it something that I wish any of us were going through? Absolutely not.”
Parsons entered the final year of his rookie deal this season and is expected to seek a recordsetting extension, one that could top even T.J. Watt or Myles Garrett.
But while elite defenders are commanding $40 million or more annually, negotiations with the Cowboys are yet to begin. ESPN reports the team has not formally presented any offer to Parsons‘ agent, David Mulugheta.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has publicly criticized Parsons for missing games last season, mistakenly claiming he sat out six contests instead of four, and suggested durability concerns.
Meanwhile, Parsons criticized the Cowboys‘ decision to bypass his agent and negotiate directly. The tension has escalated to the point that Parsons formally requested a trade.
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