Unless they perform a miracle and make the playoffs, there are three games left in the Dallas Cowboys' season. What's concerning is that the season isn't even over and Micah Parsons' upcoming contract dilemma has already come into focus.
You can thank Stephen Jones for that after he said the Cowboys would rethink everything this offseason, including paying high-end stars. While Jones said he couldn't picture Parsons anywhere but Dallas, he fueled speculation that the team may trade him to cleanse the salary cap.
Jerry Jones, of all people, swooped in as the voice of reason and shut down any talk about trading Parsons. It's mind-numbing that it even came to that, but it seems as of this writing that the franchise intends on reaching a long-term agreement with the All-Pro defender.
Cowboys fans are already dreading the negotiation. It's long been expected that Parsons would demand the richest contract in NFL history for a defensive player. That may prove true, but Parsons on Thursday dispelled any notion that he'll hang Dallas over a barrel.
Cowboys star Micah Parsons opens up about upcoming contract
'No. Everyone's different.'
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 19, 2024
Micah Parsons says he'll be in training camp come July, even if he and the #Cowboys are still working on his new contract when they head to Oxnard.
He also talked about the money part...
Read 👉🏾 https://t.co/QrjaM15IqW
By far the biggest takeaway is that Parsons doesn't "need" $40 million per year. 49ers star Nick Bosa reset the EDGE market last year across the board, including annual average value ($34 million), total guaranteed ($122.5 million) and fully guaranteed money ($88 million).
It stands to reason Parsons will seek to surpass those benchmarks, but it doesn't sound like he intends to take the Cowboys to the cleaners. Make no mistake: Parsons is going to sign a contract that paints him as the premier defensive player in the NFL, which he's been since returning from injury. However, winning is his primary objective at the end of the day.
"It would just be nice to be surrounded by good players ... Players that are going to help you win championships. To me, having $40 million and being chipped every play and slid two with three, four people - I don't think that sounds too fun ... We'll see how it breaks down, but I want to keep as many guys as possible, however they're going to make the cap work. "Micah Parsons, via Patrik Walker
That (should be) music to the Joneses ears. The face of the franchise has made it clear months ahead of time that he'll be flexible at the negotiation table. Obviously, Parsons will set lofty benchmarks, but he couldn't have said anything more to light a fire under the front office.
Parsons wants the contract done "sooner rather than later" to give the team flexibility with other players. What more could the Joneses ask for? We're glad you asked. The 25-year-old said he doesn't plan on holding out this offseason regardless if the contract is done because he wants to continue building chemistry with his teammates, old and new.
Again, this is exactly what you want to hear from your superstar. Parsons has clearly made strides as a leader and he's backed up all of his talk about Dallas' season not being over with the most dominant stretch of football in his career.
If this front office has learned anything, Parsons' extension would get done no later than the start of free agency. He laid out exactly what he's looking for. If the negotiation drags out, you'll know who to blame.
Here's a hint: His name rhymes with Perry Bones.