FRISCO – When Dallas Cowboys defensive leader Micah Parsons recently called for “America’s Team” to “change,” even offering to do what he can to facilitate that? This probably wasn’t exactly what he had in mind. “I called upon The Star,” said Parsons on Monday as the team headed into the offseason after a challenging 2024. “I landed on it, and I’m grateful. I feel like I got one of the best jobs in America.”

Part of that job will be the coming negotiation of a new contract extension that could make him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history … maybe at $40 million per year. But Parsons wants something more than that – and he has visited team owner Jerry Jones to express that want. “We have a great opportunity,” he said of the 2025 Cowboys. “I want to see change.” Well, in recent days, “change” is what he’s gotten – in the form of head coach Mike McCarthy departing, and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer exiting with him.

Brian Schottenheimer is now the top guy, and Matt Eberflus has been hired to replace the retiring Zimmer – meaning Micah will have a third coordinator (with Dan Quinn now in Washington) in three years. Is that enough “change” for everybody? Again, though, Micah is talking about personnel and the cap and roster-building. Parsons’ desire for “change” is not about being confrontational with Jones; it’s more about Parsons’ willingness to help roster-build, maybe by trying to negotiate a deal quickly (thus adding to Dallas’ potential $100 million in available cap room), maybe by considering taking a hometown discount.

“I want to see players here,” he said. “I eant to see some of these (in-house free agents) back in this locker room. I want to be as aggressive (in free agency) as we can be.” Dallas has the financial wherewithal to do that, though COO Stephen Jones has downplayed that fact. And so yes, in theory, Micah’s idea of bringing in a star player here and another one there is doable.

Related: Inside The Cowboys’ ‘Blow It Up’ Plan to $100M in 2025 Cap Room As it happens, Jones and Parsons sat together when Texas played Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium a couple of weeks ago. They talked, not only about how this year’s Parsons deal can follow the big-money contracts given last year to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but also about how Micah can contribute to making it all fit.

“I don’t want to hold anybody up,” Parsons said of his timing and his money. “I don’t want to be a headache to nobody.” Except Cowboys opponents, of course.