Even though Dallas Cowboys fans will always miss Micah Parsons, something that fans won't miss is the frustration of not getting the holding calls that Parsons deserved.
Going into Week 15, Parsons has yet to draw a holding penalty this season, and his head coach, Matt LaFleur, has made his own effort to appeal to the officials on this issue in the best way possible without getting fined after the Packers' win against the Bears.
"I guess I don't know what holding is anymore because I thought that was pretty clear -- clear and obvious hold. I guess I don't know what that means," LaFleur said.
Former Cowboys star Micah Parsons has yet to draw a holding penalty this season
Parsons went on a volcanic rant earlier this season about the officials ignoring even the most blatant penalties. Illegal hands to the face is another penalty that Parsons can't seem to draw. If someone's grabbing at the face mask, what's the point of even having the penalty in the first place?
Parsons claims that the NFL will call defensive offsides or defensive pass interferences, but is hesitant to call the same on offense because they want to rack up points for entertainment purposes. This is a more extreme claim, but fans can understand Parsons being upset in the heat of the moment.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys sent a memo in late 2023 about Parsons not getting the calls he deserved. It's safe to say that didn't help much.
Many of the league's best pass rushers have carried around similar claims, with J.J. Watt going as far as to say he was getting held on every play. This isn't a new issue, and Parsons just so happens to be the latest victim. But zero holding penalties called in favor of one of the best players in the NFL? That's an embarrassing look for the league.
Either way, it hasn't stopped Parsons from having what will likely be an All-Pro season. His 12.5 sacks are tied for third in the NFL, and his 73 pressures, 14 quarterback hits, and 23.1 percent pass-rush win rate are all top-six marks among edge rushers, per PFF.
Parsons and LaFleur are not asking for a lot. They only want the calls they deserve. Even with Parsons donning the green and yellow, Cowboys fans would agree that Parsons isn't being officiated fairly. He's too good for his own good, and LaFleur's message will likely fall on deaf ears.