FRISCO, Texas – All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys are “close enough” on his second NFL contract following his rookie deal, in the words of Jerry Jones.
“I know about the years, and I know about the guarantees,” Jerry Jones said following the Cowboys’ pre-draft press conference on Tuesday. “I know about those kinds of things, and really it’s close enough to ….work on a number. I mean, I’m comfortable with it. I don’t need to adjust.”
Translation: He acknowledged that negotiations on Parsons’ contract are progressing, yet there’s still work to finalize the numbers.
This indicates that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his son Stephen, Dallas’ COO and EVP, recognize the significance of finalizing Parsons’ per-year salary as both sides are clearly engaged but find themselves at an impasse on specific figures. Stephen Jones expressed commitment to re-signing Parsons, who is a rare talent with impressive stats as he is the only player with at least 12 sacks in his first four seasons.
“You look around the league at most of these players who are getting these very top contracts, it does take time ultimately to get there, and believe me, if we could sign Micah to a number we wanted to sign him to, we do it right now,” Stephen Jones added in the same press conference. “But right now, there’s a difference in what we feel is the right number, and what he feels like is the right number.”
Translation: Stephen Jones points out that while they want to secure Parsons, they see a gap in what he believes he should earn versus what they are willing to pay.
Parsons has begun attending the team’s voluntary workouts under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, demonstrating a cooperative stance with the understanding that negotiations will continue to evolve positively. This mirrors past scenarios with players like Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb who successfully navigated contract discussions.
“The assumption here is that we’re going to get something done, and so he knows or should know how important his being around here working is to leadership,” Jerry Jones said, emphasizing the necessity of Parsons stepping up as a leader. Translation: Jones indicates Parsons’ presence is vital for team morale and leadership during this transitional phase.
While Parsons’ efforts to attend workouts are commendable, concerns about a potential holdout for training camp remain valid in light of previous negotiations in the league.
“Nothing,” Jerry Jones responded when questioned about his confidence regarding Parsons’ contract negotiations and potential holdouts. Translation: He admits there’s uncertainty in whether he can avoid a holdout like what occurred with Zack Martin in previous years.
Lastly, both Jerry and Stephen Jones shared perspectives about managing high-profile contract negotiations within the context of team dynamics and market trends, suggesting a strategic approach is necessary to balance financial commitments with broader team objectives.
