Without Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys could not have scripted a better start to Thursday night's opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Aided by a truly disgusting stunt by Eagles defender Jalen Carter, the Cowboys marched right down the field for a touchdown on the game's opening possession.
Still, that doesn't take away from the Parsons narrative. While Jerry Jones and Brian Schottenheimer claimed the decision to trade the two-time All-Pro was a unanimous decision from the front office, coaching staff and players, it clearly wasn't endorsed by every player.
That was evident by reactions that trickled out on social media in the aftermath of the trade. Trevon Diggs was among the Cowboys who felt the loss, and he confirmed that before kickoff to NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark.
Cowboys' Trevon Diggs is still feeling the loss of Micah Parsons
"We lost a great player who made my job a lot easier. Personally, I lost my best friend," Diggs said, via the NBC broadcast.
There is simply no way the decision to trade a generational talent was universal. There's a small part of us that thinks Brian Schottenheimer was reluctant to trade the team's best player a week before he embarked on his first season as an NFL head coach.
While Parsons undoubtedly ruffled some feathers in the building with his podcast with Bleacher Report - veteran safety Malik Hooker has admitted as much last year- he developed a lot of close relationships with high-profile players like Diggs, CeeDee Lamb and DeMarvion Overshown.
Taking Parsons' seismic impact on the field out of the equation, it's fair to question how the trade is impacting the locker room.
Diggs specifically just entered a likely make-or-break season with the franchise after the front office fined him $500,000 for rehabbing away from the team this offseason. A trade after the season isn't out of the equation if he doesn't rediscover his Pro Bowl form. Trading away his best friend might make it an easy split for both sides if it comes to that.