To say it’ll take some getting used to Micah Parsons not repping the Dallas Cowboys would be an understatement. Add in the fact that he’ll be suiting up for the hated Green Bay Packers, and you’ve got every Cowboys fan’s worst nightmare.
If it feels like the process is moving fast, that's because the season is right around the corner. The Cowboys already had Kenny Clark meet with the media after he arrived in Dallas on Friday. A few hours later, it was Parsons' turn to be introduced for the first time as a Packers player.
Seemingly a big sticking point for Jerry Jones was that Parsons was willing to sit out games because of an apparent back injury. That was among the first questions Parsons fielded and he confirmed what was widely speculated: he's doing just fine.
"I'm great. I'm gonna talk to the doctors and to formulate a plan. But they didn't give up what they gave up to have me on the sidelines."
Micah Parsons' back is feeling just fine after he was traded by the Cowboys
Absolutely nobody is shocked.
Parsons still might be on a pitch count when the Packers take the field next Sunday. He hasn't practiced all summer, so he'll need a ramp up period before jumping into practice full tilt. Brian Schottenheimer already confirmed that Parsons wouldn't play all of the snaps if he remained with the Cowboys and was healthy enough to suit up in Week 1.
Parsons departed Dallas on Wednesday, some 24 hours before the trade went down, to seek a second opinion on his back after previously undergoing an MRI. Everyone knew that Parsons' back would heal right up if Jerry Jones swallowed his ego and offered him a new deal.
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As insane as it is to trade away and elite player in their prime, it's not all that hard to lay out a blueprint for how trading Parsons could work. However, it doesn't align with the timeline of any of the front office's recent moves: extending Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, and trading a third-round pick for George Pickens. Those are win-now transactions.
Trading Parsons would signify a rebuild for most teams, and Dallas seemingly has no intention of doing that. That makes it seem like it boiled down to a damaged ego.
Regardless, Parsons deserves credit for taking the high road. The back injury is what it is. He didn't throw any shade at the Cowboys and said he was grateful for his time in Dallas.
It's clear that both sides are trying their best to move on. That is easier said than done for Cowboys fans.