With Jerry Jones' attempts to get All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons tied down to a long-term deal going nowhere, the Dallas Cowboys owner shifted course. Attempting to cut out the middle-man could have dire consequences attached.
Parsons has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Jones to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. This will be north of $40 million per year and will bring an end to a long-running saga that unsurprisingly became more complicated than expected.
And it's not over yet.
Jerry Jones goes rogue to get Micah Parsons a long-term deal with the Cowboys
According to Clarence Hill of All City DLLS, Jones and Parsons reached this amicable arrangement without much consultation from the player's agent. David Mulugheta hasn't spoken to the Cowboys regarding the new deal since the NFL Scouting Combine, so this development was probably a surprise to him as well.
Jones confirmed the report as accurate at the NFL league meetings via David Moore from the Dallas Morning News. The enigmatic billionaire claimed that he was writing the check and Parsons was cashing it, so it's the quickest way to get something worked out.
Why has Jerry Jones discussed contract w/ Micah Parsons & not his agent, David Mulugheta?
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) April 1, 2025
“”I’m the one who has to write the check & Micah is the one who has to agree to it,” Jones said. “That’s the straightest way to get there.
“That’s the principle that’s involved here.” pic.twitter.com/eKhzgVKSsy
In theory.
What Jones failed to note is that per the collective bargaining agreement, any contracts must be negotiated and confirmed by an NFLPA-approved agent unless the player is representing himself. Since Parsons isn't doing that, this is far from a done deal.
It's another example of Jones acting with impulse rather than sticking to the traditional method. He's not above the NFL rules, no matter how much stroke he has among other owners. This isn't going to go down well with Mulugheta, who's widely respected as a strong negotiator and is unlikely to let something happen without a significant say in proceedings.
Nothing is ever easy. The Cowboys left things too late with the likes of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. They paid much more as a result, but Jones going rogue in his quest to get something worked out with Parsons represents something else entirely.
It breaks typical NFL protocol. It's a sign of bad faith between the club and the player's chosen representatives. It's gone from a frustrating situation to a powder keg waiting to go off at any moment.
Parsons might have agreed to the deal in principle, but that's not going to be enough. The agent must approve any deal and even negotiate it himself before something gets rubber-stamped. Anything less sets a dangerous precedent.
NFL players do represent themselves. Bobby Wagner negotiated his last two deals with the Washington Commanders by himself. But most are not well-versed in the intricacies of complex deals, especially those that break barriers and set new financial benchmarks.
The whole point of agents is to ensure players don't get manipulated or short-changed by owners. Jones either forgot that or simply didn't care.
It'll be interesting to see what comes next, but it's not a great look.
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