During the NFL offseason, it’s become common for players seeking a new contract to make a show of it and skip workouts until an agreement is reached.
A year ago, one of the Dallas Cowboys’ stars, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, did just that. In the end, he secured a new four-year deal worth $136 million, $100 million of it guaranteed. Heading into this season, there was speculation that Micah Parsons would take a similar route. However, he has done the complete opposite.
Parsons is seeking – and is almost certain to achieve – the title of highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, surpassing the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Myles Garrett. Reports suggest his contract could exceed $40 million per year.
Micah Parsons shows up for Voluntary Workouts
The general expectation among fans was that Parsons would hold out of workouts until a deal was reached, but he defied those odds and stepped into the role everyone has been asking of him: to be the leader and example for the Cowboys.
“I have to be with the guys,” Parsons said, according to the team’s official website.
“There will be rookies, free agents – players coming in – you don’t know who’s going to be here, so there’s a chemistry aspect. People know what you can do, but they also need to see it from a leadership standpoint. So I have to be here for that,” he explained.
The Dallas Cowboys have lost key players, especially guard Zach Martin, who retired and will no doubt be a future Hall of Famer. With his departure, the leadership role was left vacant, and Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer, along with team owner Jerry Jones, have asked Parsons to step into that position.
That’s why Parsons has been present from day one of training camp.
“I definitely think I need to be at camp because, honestly, when so much of the defense revolves around your play and presence, and others align based on you, I need to be here to guide these guys,” Parsons said. “We can attack together, build that chemistry.”
With this move, Parsons has taken a major step forward, and it’s only a matter of days before he puts pen to paper on a historic deal.
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