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As the Dallas Cowboys gear up for training camp in Oxnard, California, Jerry Jones held his annual pre-camp press conference before Dallas officially kicks things off. As expected, Jones was asked about his star edge rusher, Micah Parsons.
The franchise owner suggested he hasn’t spoken directly with Parsons’ agent lately regarding the terms of a new contract.
“I’ve talked to people that have talked to him, let’s put it like that,” Jones told reporters on Monday. “I don’t necessarily talk to these agents, or I don’t necessarily talk to attorneys. I do stuff everywhere, and I don’t necessarily talk to the people that are hired to do certain things. I talk to the principals 90 percent of the time.”
Jones would later shock the crowd as he took an apparent shot at Parsons’ lack of availability later in the press conference.
“Just because we sign him doesn’t mean we’re going to have him,” Jones said, via CBS Sports. “He was hurt six games last year. Seriously! I remember signing a player to the highest-paid player at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year. Dak Prescott. So, there’s a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you’re thinking about commitment, guarantee, and money.”
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While the comment came off as odd publicly, it doesn’t change the fact that the Cowboys are interested in locking in Parsons long-term. And although Parsons recently expressed his frustration with the lack of urgency to get a deal done, he’s made it clear with his words and his actions that he wants to be in Dallas long-term.
“We obviously wanted to get it done early. We wanted that relief off our backs, but obviously, ownership is always going to make it drag out,” Parsons recently said on ‘Six Feet Under‘ with Mark Calaway. “Make it more complicated than it has to be. A lack of communication. I always say, ‘God has me this far. He ain’t done with me yet.’ I just keep working, keep going. When it comes, I’m going to be ready. There ain’t going to be no dropoff.”
As several star pass rushers across the league earn their major extensions this offseason, it’s only a matter of time before Parsons gets his. All of the buildup might lead to frustration, but Parsons hasn’t reached a point where he’s going to force the team’s hand right now. The veteran is expected to be present at training camp in California this week.
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