The Dallas Cowboys beat the Carolina Panthers 34-10 on Sunday, but the headlines in Dallas have nothing to do with the game itself.
Micah Parsons had a sobering response when asked to comment on a report that the Cowboys haven't ruled out trading him in the offseason. It was a very professional response from Parsons all things considered.
While the Cowboys have made some regrettable contract decisions in the past, it's doubtful that they are incompetent enough to trade Parsons. In a vacuum, there's no reason (yet) to fear for Parsons' future in Dallas.
One player who can't say the same is Trevon Diggs, who will undergo season-ending knee surgery to address a "cartilage" issue. It's his second surgery on his left knee in the span of a year after he had ACL reconstruction surgery last season. That alone is concerning for Diggs' future outlook.
However, Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports dropped an alarming report before the game, saying the Cowboys are "not happy" with how Diggs attacked his ACL rehab. It's a damning insinuation and Parsons isn't buying it for a second.
Cowboys' Micah Parsons defends Trevon Diggs over baseless narrative
Bull shit !! I’ll drop facts one day! Just not today!! But this bullshit and a bad narrative they’ve tried to put on my brothers name! https://t.co/SZUHkOY0xt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 15, 2024
That is a powerful statement from Parsons.
This is not the first time that Diggs' "effort" has been brought into question. Cowboys fans have been critical of Diggs in the past for his poor open-field tackling, which more often than not boils down to desire and technique.
RELATED: Cowboys may have lost another defensive star to major injury in Week 15 win
The narrative reached a boiling point earlier this season when WFAA news anchor Mike Leslie ripped Diggs' effort on a long George Kittle touchdown. It was somewhat unfair of Leslie being that Kittle wasn't Diggs' assignment on the play. Diggs confronted Leslie postgame while still in full uniform and questioned his football IQ and own athleticism.
Now, reports are swirling criticizing how Diggs approached his knee rehab. That is far more damaging to Diggs' reputation than how he tackles ball-carriers. How an athlete rehabs from injury is a testament to their competitive nature, mental fortitude and love for the game.
All of that comes into question for Diggs if Hill's report is true. That Parsons was so ticked off that he felt inclined to defend his teammate and slam a veteran reporter like Hill would seem to suggest it's not true, or at the very least overblown.
Diggs' future with the Cowboys is a conversation for another day, though it shouldn't be swept under the rug. There are suddenly legitimate concerns about his health long-term. With that said, we find it hard to believe that an athlete of his caliber didn't take his ACL recovery serious.
Those are two separate conversations.