Micah Parsons says real competitors should look up to Tom Brady

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was not even a year old when Tom Brady was selected by the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft. The former rookie had the tough task of going up against the “GOAT” in his first-ever NFL game last season. Parsons was 22 years old and Brady was 44 years old.

When asked about last year’s narrow loss to the Bucs, Parsons didn’t even want to talk about it. The LB said it was the worst game of his career. Although the Penn State product didn’t get a sack, it’s hard to consider a rookie getting seven tackles in his first game terrible by any means. Plus, he obviously learned from it given he went on to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Now, he gets another chance to get a sack on the 45-year-old quarterback, perhaps for the last time ever as the Cowboys host the Bucs for Sunday Night Football in Week 1 at AT&T Stadium. Last week, Parsons said he was excited about the opportunity to face him again, especially after he thought Brady was retiring. Is there extra pressure or drive against Brady, though? No. He told Patrik Walker that there’s no player out there that he’s “not trying to kill.” Lion’s always hungry, right?

This week, he was once again asked about going up against Brady. Parsons spoke about his respect for the QB as a competitor. He compared Brady to Marvel Superheroes and some of the greatest athletes in the world, including one athlete that Jerry Jones compared him to.

"“You just see his competitive nature. He has that fire inside of him. He looks to kill you. He wants to step on your throat like you a roach. That’s what you look for in competitors. That’s why, if you’re a real competitor you look up to Tom Brady. You look up to Kobe [Bryant], that Mamba mentality. You look up to Michael Jordan. I wouldn’t ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do.” – Parsons told ESPN’s Todd Archer after practice on Wednesday"

Cowboys LB Micah Parsons compares Tom Brady to superheroes and is inspired by the QB’s competitiveness

Mentality has always been a big thing for Parsons. He frequently told reporters last year that he would watch videos of lions hunting their prey or Mike Tyson hype videos in order to get in the right mindset for games.

He wasn’t afraid to admit that his Week 1 adversary has those competitive qualities he looks for, too:

"“We aspire to be that fierce or be that strong. You got to be a real strong-minded person to be who you are and for Tom to do that in New England and do it with the Bucs, I mean, he inspires me even though I’m on defense.”"

After complimenting one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play, he joked that the Cowboys have to “get [Brady] out of this league” because he’s been dominating for too long. In Parsons’ eyes, the QB falls but he always gets back up.

Just like the Cowboys LB, the Bucs QB always wants to squash his competition. The two may have more in common than we thought.

Todd Bowles has high praise for Micah Parsons ahead of Week 1 matchup

Bucs HC Todd Bowles had high praise for Cowboys LB Micah Parsons in a recent press conference. The LB said he wants to be feared & be the best in the league