Micah Parsons will be present at the team’s upcoming mandatory minicamp despite being in the middle of a contract dispute with the Dallas Cowboys, as the linebacker avoids replicating Ja’Marr Chase‘s pattern with the Cincinnati Bengals… For the moment.
Although questions remain about his availability for training camp as he waits to agree his extension at the AT&T Stadium, following big contracts for Dak Prescott and Ceedee Lamb, in the final year of his rookie deal.
The 25-year-old is one of the NFL’s most dynamic defensive players, and is seeking a long-term extension that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
“I haven’t missed a minicamp in 4 years,” Parsons said via X.com, formerly Twitter. “Even though the contract is not done, I have teammates and a playbook!
“I’m preparing as if I will be on the field the first week of camp! But it’s in the owner’s hands. I’m ready to win a Super Bowl!”
Though he confirmed his intention to attend minicamp, Parsons did not commit to participating in on-field drills. In fact, his message suggested that while he plans to report to the team facility, his presence at training camp in July is far from guaranteed unless a deal is reached.
Contract conundrum overshadows Cowboys season preparations
Parsons became eligible for a contract extension following the 2023 season and is currently set to earn $24 million in 2025 under the fifth-year option, before then earning the major big-money deal of his career.
He is expected to command a deal that surpasses the annual average salary of the Bengals’ wide receiver, Chase, who recently signed a four-year, $161 million contract; with $112 million guaranteed, for an average of $40.25 million per year.
Parsons‘ contract demands are rooted in performance. Since entering the league in 2021, he has established himself as one of the NFL’s elite pass rushers, earning All-Pro honors and playing a central role in a Cowboys defense that has ranked among the league’s best in multiple categories.
He returned from a trip to Spain on Tuesday and appeared at the team’s facility for photo day but did not practice in the organized team activities (OTAs), suggesting he’s serious about his warning to skip training camp for the NFC East side.
If he does commit to that policy, only then will his approach to the contract standoff mirror how some other stars have handled similar situations, such as Chase, who was also seeking a new deal, skipped practices during the 2024 offseason but surprised many by appearing at the team’s first regular-season practice.
Parsons appears willing to give the Cowboys front office additional time to negotiate, but his message made it clear that patience has limits. The team’s ability to contend for a Super Bowl may rest on its ability to lock in its defensive cornerstone before training camp begins in Oxnard, California.
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