Deadspin | Packers' new No. 1, Micah Parsons, expects to play opener

Nov 13, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Micah Parsons is feeling on top of the football world after he was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers and became the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.

Now he has a uniform number to match.

The All-Pro pass rusher announced Friday that he will wear No. 1 when he suits up for the Packers. The last Green Bay player to sport that number was the legendary Curly Lambeau, back in 1925-26. Lambeau is now the namesake of the team’s home stadium.

Following the offseason drama of his contract dispute with the Cowboys that ultimately led to the swap, Parsons acknowledged he is in the spotlight at his new team.

“There is a lot of expectations and I’d be a fool to think there isn’t expectations or there isn’t pressure in the position that I’m stepping into,” said Parsons, who wore No. 11 during his four seasons in Dallas. “But then again, that’s a blessing in itself. That means that they believed in me that much. …

“They believe I’m that much of a future in this organization and they showed that in every which way. So that just alone shows me the type of person I need to be in this building every day and I’m very determined.”

Although he wasn’t training with the Cowboys before the trade, Parsons hopes to be ready to play against the visiting Detroit Lions in the Packers’ season opener on Sept. 7.

“They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines,” Parsons said.

He downplayed a back ailment that bothered him recently.

“I think physically, you know, I’m great,” Parsons said. “I think I can contribute a lot. I’m going to team up with the doctors in creating a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable.”

Parsons and Reggie White are the only players in NFL history with at least 12 sacks in their first four NFL seasons, which dates to 1982 when the league made it an official statistic.

To pry Parsons from Dallas, the Packers traded former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks to the Cowboys on Thursday. He’ll sign a record-setting contract worth $188 million and immediately alter the game plan for the Packers’ Week 1 opponent, the NFC North champion Detroit Lions.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones won’t have to wait long to see what he’s missing in Parsons. The Packers play in Dallas next month in a primetime Sunday showdown that is likely to have both sides circling Sept. 28 on their calendars.

Clark said he was getting ice cream with his daughter when he found out it was time to pack his bags. He said in his introductory press conference at The Star he’s ready to get to work where he’s “wanted.”

“No nonsense, you’re going to get a dawg, somebody that’s just all about football,” Clark said. “I’m here to ball. I’m here to be my best self. I feel like when I’m my best self, there’s nobody messing with me. That’s what I bring to the table — I’m here to play my ass off.”

Teammates in Dallas were left stunned by the move. Cornerback Trevon Diggs posted a broken heart emoji with no caption and wide receiver/return man KaVontae Turpin posted: “Yeah this league (s–) crazy.”

Yeah this league shit crazy lol

https://twitter.com/KaVontaeTurpin/status/1961176948337438959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1961176948337438959%7Ctwgr%5E0d965f8059881454eba34e4c63e4ac19db67361a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fpackers-new-no-1-micah-parsons-expects-to-play-opener%2F

Jones proclaimed the deal was “best for the organization” in a press conference Thursday confirming the swap and closing the book on a friction-filled month with one of the top defensive players in the NFL.

Subtracting Parsons leaves Dallas lighter at the edge positions but Jones didn’t rule out using the newfound draft capital to improve the team immediately.

Matching Parsons’ production will be next to impossible. His 18 multiple-sack games in his first four career seasons are second all-time to White (23).

The Packers know all about White. After playing for the Eagles, he signed with Green Bay as a free agent in 1993, then posted 68.5 sacks in six seasons.