One can debate whether Dallas Cowboys‘ all-world pass rusher Micah Parsons is the best in the NFL. What’s not up for debate is that if you’re truly elite at the position, your paycheck will soon reflect as such.
In a new report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the ongoing contract negotiations between Parsons and the Cowboys’ management have broken down so badly that the superstar defender has formally requested a trade from the organization and shared his side of the story on social media on Friday.
“Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here,” Parsons said. “I no longer want to be held to closed door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me.”
Needless to say, an agreement on a new contract is nowhere close to being resolved as negotiations are currently on hold.
The most shocking detail in the report and in Parsons’ social posts is that the usual negotiation method between the player and the organization seems to have upset Jones and the front office. According to Russini, Parsons had multiple conversations directly with Jones during the spring. The Cowboys believed that what was said verbally was similar to a handshake deal, while Parsons saw those talks as just discussions. Parsons was now prepared to involve his agent, David Mulugheta, to finalize a deal, but the Cowboys have no interest in talking to Mulugheta and have cut off discussions entirely. Whatever was agreed upon in those talks was now the only deal on the table.
Thank you Dallas 🦁👑 🙏🏾! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025
“I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” Parsons said. “My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones (co-owner, director of player personnel).”
Woof.
This recent update is just the latest needling from Jones to further irritate his star player. In July, Jones publicly questioned paying the full freight for Parsons in a new deal because of potential health issues that could arise.
“Just because we sign [Parsons] doesn’t mean we’re going to have him,” Jones told reporters. “He was hurt six games last year.”
Parsons was actually out for just four games in 2024.
“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,” Jones continued. “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.”
Houston Texans legend and fellow pass rusher JJ Watt called out Jones and defended Parsons.
“Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it,” Watt tweeted. “Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you.”
The Cowboys, noted as America’s Team for their bombastic brand, always find new ways to stay in the headlines. What isn’t in the headlines in nearly three decades is their ability to be a championship contender. Instead, the ownership of the Cowboys have constantly found ways to bungle negotiations with their star players, which almost always ends up in Dallas actually paying way more than they would’ve if they’d been proactive in getting deals done.
Cowboys stars Prescott (twice), Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Martin and CeeDee Lamb all had ugly holdouts and negotiations. All of them eventually got paid, big time. But was it worth it, especially to the Cowboys’ organization?
Former Cowboys legend Dez Bryant doesn’t think so.
“As much as I love the Cowboys, this is exactly why it’s hard to see them reach their goals. This isn’t a drama show. This should be about football and only football,” said Bryant Friday on X. “From experience, if the organization messes with what you love, it can f*** with you mentally, and some people can’t recover from those experiences.”
Bryant shared that he reached out to Cowboys ownership about the issues dealing with Parsons.
As much as I love the Cowboys, this is exactly why it's hard to see them reach their goals. This isn't a drama show..this should be about football and only football. From experience, if the organization messes with what you love, it can fuck with you mentally, and some people…
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 1, 2025
“I have to share this message with Stephen and Jerry,” Bryant said. “This isn’t the old days, it’s time to move forward and be the innovators you always have been. You’ve got the greatest franchise in sports history. use it to your advantage in a positive way.”
Maybe this is what Jones wants. Maybe Parsons is in on it, like a WWE-style feud where the whole point of the public shenanigans is to make us care. Make us want to write this story. Make us tweet about how silly the Cowboys are. Make us think that Parsons is asking for too much. Make us believe the Cowboys are being cheap.
One can only hope that’s the diabolical aim of the Cowboys. But if it’s not, the only other explanation is sheer ineptitude, which will ultimately result in a massive paycheck for Parsons in the very near future.
