Cowboys LB Micah Parsons continues to use DeMarcus Ware as a mentor
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is always trying to get better. No practice is just a practice. The Lion is always giving 110% and is ready to improve on a stellar rookie campaign.
While he certainly has innate skill, Parsons didn’t get here alone. Throughout his time in the Cowboys organization, he has looked to former defensive legends for advice and guidance. One of those people is nine-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware. The All-Pro linebacker spent nine years with Dallas and accumulated 117.0 sacks.
The relationship between the two linebackers started fairly early on. When the Cowboys were the team chosen for HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in 2021, there was a segment where Parsons was picking Ware’s brain in a gym before the team’s opening game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But it wasn’t just for show. The mentorship continued throughout the season. Last year before the Cowboys’ playoff game against San Francisco, Ware and Parsons had lunch to talk about playoff pressure. The future Hall of Famer revealed that the two texted throughout the year when Parsons wanted any tips and pointers.
The same is happening before Year 2.
DeMarcus Ware talking about working with Micah Parsons. Ware asked if he has taught Parsons his fake spin move: “Not yet. He’s not ready for that yet.” pic.twitter.com/eBw0EcqI7h
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 25, 2022
Micah Parsons continues to get advice and pointers from Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware
At last week’s Inaugural Blue-Carpet Kickoff Event for the team, Ware talked about his relationship with the young linebacker. The future Hall of Famer was impressed that the Defensive Rookie of the Year wanted him to watch his tape from practice. Not game footage. Practice. To Ware, that showed how much Parsons gives in any situation.
"“He was like ‘D Ware, you gotta watch my tape though.’When you get a young guy coming in like that, especially mentoring him, he was just like, ‘I’m coming off the ball so aggressive. I’m making a lot of plays.’ And I’m just like, I can’t wait to see it. The eye in the sky don’t lie. So when he sends it to me, I’m going to give him that yay or nay.”When you see him want to on the practice field where guys really don’t want to do it, that’s going to carry over to the games. Being able to see him say, ‘hey, watch my practices.’ That means something. He ain’t talking about game day, everybody’s going to show up on game day."
Praise this high from one of the best linebackers to play this sport is awesome, and you can tell that Ware isn’t just saying this because Parsons is a Cowboy. Ware’s words are backed by the countless amount of times media members at preseason joint practices mentioned how many sacks Parsons “would have had” if he were allowed to hit.
The Lion truly takes every snap seriously no matter what the stakes are. Hopefully, that’s a trait his teammates pick up on.
