Micah Parsons signing a massive extension with the Dallas Cowboys seemed like the logical conclusion to a months-long saga. Because that’s what Jerry Jones does. He gets deals done.
This time, his ego got in the way. And it cost the Cowboys their best player.
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The Cowboys still got value back for Parsons in a mega-deal with the Green Bay Packers that changes the landscape of the NFL for this season and many seasons to come. Dallas got two first-round picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark. Parsons cashed in with a four-year, $188 million deal that includes $120 million fully guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
It’s not like the Cowboys sold low in the trade — this isn’t the Luka Doncic trade (sorry, Dallas fans) in which it was clear it was a lopsided deal for a superstar — but it’s hard to replace Parsons no matter how many draft picks you get back. The Raiders got two first-round picks back for Khalil Mack back in a huge 2018 trade that’s similar to the Parsons deal, and with those picks they never hit on anyone as good as Mack. Not even close. If the Cowboys land a player anywhere near Parsons’ talent level, it would be a massive win. It’s also unlikely.
Parsons probably would still be a Cowboy if Jones was willing to step back and get a deal done. He said he already had the framework of a big extension done. But it wasn’t finished on his terms.
Jerry Jones was stubborn over Micah Parsons deal
Jones seemed weirdly dug in on the Parsons issue for months.
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In his mind he had a deal. He and Parsons met, without Parsons’ agent David Mulugheta. Jones said he and Parsons agreed to the basics of a deal that would have paid Parsons the most guaranteed money for a non-quarterback in NFL history. There is probably some nuance to Jones’ side of the story, but it never seemed like Jones was unwilling to pay market value. He just didn’t want to involve the agent, even saying he didn’t know Mulugheta’s name. Mulugheta is one of the most powerful agents in sports.
When Jones sent the details of the alleged deal to Mulugheta, the agent told Jones to “stick it up our ass.” That was Jones telling that story, not some outside source, and he did so with a strange glee.
The standoff seemed to get more personal at that point. The question still wasn’t necessarily if Parsons would be traded, but if he’d sit out games. It seemed hard to believe Parsons would be on the field in Week 1, at least.
He might make the season opener. Just not with the Cowboys.
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Cowboys move on without Parsons
Jones got deals done with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb after those negotiations got contentious. Those huge contracts put the Cowboys in a tough spot with the salary cap, but a deal with Parsons still could have gotten done if the Cowboys got creative. Jones wouldn’t have offered to make him the highest paid non-quarterback ever as he said, in terms of guarantees, if the cap hit was impossible.
But this time Jones, an incredibly shrewd businessman, maybe met his match with Parsons and Mulugheta. Parsons’ side didn’t acquiesce to take the terms of a deal Jones tried to get done without the agent, which is not how NFL business is done. When players hire agents, their job is to negotiate. Not to rubber stamp deals done in private. Jones knows that. He just didn’t seem to care, and seemed more interested in comparing that deal to him buying the Cowboys on a handshake agreement than admitting the right way to do things was to stop the pettiness, call Mulugheta, and sign Parsons to the deal everyone knew he’d eventually get somewhere.
Jones has built the most lucrative franchise in sports. It’s hard to question his business skills. And there were reasons for trading Parsons in a league that has a salary cap, for a franchise that has two players near the top of their pay scale for their position. It could work out for Dallas. But at this point the reaction from fans will probably be similar to the Doncic trade, with a lot of anger over letting a superstar leave town. But unlike the calls to fire Mavs GM Nico Harrison, nobody can fire Jones. Dallas fans know that well.
Parsons is just 26 years old. That’s a long time for Cowboys fans to watch his career play out, wondering what might have been had Jones not gotten in his own way.
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