Micah Parsons Requests Trade from Cowboys and Explains Contract Negotiations

The situation between Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys has reached a critical level, with the four-time Pro Bowler formally requesting a trade.

Parsons wrote in a statement posted on X that he "no longer" wants to be with the Cowboys, explaining team officials have largely remained "silent" when his agent has tried to engage them in talks about a long-term extension. The Athletic's Dianna Russini noted the Cowboys have no intention of trading Parsons, but teams are planning to call anyway.

"Yes I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet. I wanted to play in front of the best fans in sports and make this Americas team once again. The team my pops and I grew up cheering for way up in Harrisburg, PA. Unfortunately I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me.

"I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done. But since there is confusion out there let me clear some things up. I had my agent reach out to the Cowboys last offseason after my third year in hopes of getting a deal done early. Unfortunately the team did not want to start any negotiations at that point. I was ok with that didn't complain and focused on the 2024 season. After the season I told my agent once again to let the team know we were open to negotiate when they met at the combine. My agent informed me I should wait for other deals to get done because the price would only go up but I didn't care and wanted to secure myself as a Cowboy long term. This was before any of the other pass rusher deals got done this off season.

"I knew I would be leaving money on the table but again I was ok with that. Again radio silence as far as my extension. In March I met with Mr. Jones to talk about leadership. Somehow the conversation turned into him talking contract with me. Yes I engaged in a back and forth in regards to what I wanted from my contract, but at no point did I believe this was supposed to be a formal negotiation and I informed Mr. Jones afterward my agent would reach out thinking this would get things done. But when my agent reached out and spoke to Adam (Prasifka, senior director of salary cap/player contracts) he was told the deal was pretty much already done. My agent of course told him that wasn't the case and also reached out to Stephen Jones. Again the team decided to go silent. At that point we decided to go silent. At that point we decided we would allow the team to reach out to us whenever they decided they wanted to talk. Yet still not a call email or text to my agent about starting a negotiation.

"Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract. Not one demand has been made by my agent about money years or anything else. Still I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally."

Parsons noted he had his agent initially reach out to the Cowboys about doing an extension after the 2023 season when he still had two years remaining on his rookie deal, including the fifth-year option, but they "did not want to start any negotiations at that point."

In the wake of Parsons' post, CeeDee Lamb, who had his own protracted contract talks with the Cowboys last summer, expressed support for his teammate in a post on social media:

Russini reported earlier that Parsons was "considering drastic measures" that could include requesting a trade or "a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team" due to the state of contract talks.

Russini noted one of the key issues involved a situation earlier in the offseason when the Cowboys came away from a direct conversation with Parsons feeling it was a negotiation and they had struck a deal, but Parsons felt the discussion was only a conversation because he wanted his agent to handle negotiations.

This does track with things that Jerry Jones has said this offseason. The Cowboys owner told reporters in April that he was talking directly to Parsons and he didn't know the name of Parsons' agent.

This prompted a response on X from Parsons, who praised his agent, David Mulugheta, and said he wouldn't be doing a deal without his involvement.

Parsons wrote the Cowboys are refusing to engage with his agent at all.

Even though the Cowboys have made a habit in recent years of dragging out negotiations with their best players, the situation with Parsons has had a different air around it than it did with Dak Prescott or Lamb.

Responding to a question about Cowboys fans yelling "pay Micah" during a training camp practice on July 26, Jerry Jones told reporters the chants weren't as loud as they were last year when Lamb was going through his contract drama.

"I heard it light, but not compared to how I heard them say, 'Pay Lamb [last year],'" Jones said. "That was a faint little sound compared to the way they were hollering last year, 'Pay Lamb.' ... Whoever's not in, you can count on a few hollering that. But it was a big loud chant last year on Lamb."

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones at least said they "want to pay" Parsons, but then followed it up with this comment: "He's got to want to be paid, too."

Parsons made a cryptic post on X on Thursday with a GIF from Bad Boys For Life with Will Smith saying "one last time" to Martin Lawrence in response to a post of a picture with Parsons standing next to Trevon Diggs.

The Cowboys could trade Parsons for compensation, but it wouldn't give him direct control over which team he goes to if that were to play out. They could also choose to use the franchise tag to keep Parsons for another season when the time comes should they fail to reach a contract extension.

It's worth pointing out that Lamb and Prescott didn't get their extensions worked out until very close to the start of last season. Lamb agreed to his four-year, $136 million deal on Aug. 26. Prescott agreed to a four-year, $240 million contract hours before Dallas' Week 1 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Parsons did report to training camp with the rest of his teammates last week to avoid getting fined, but he hasn't been practicing. The longer this situation drags on, the more pressure will ramp up for the Cowboys to get something done with their star pass-rusher.

If things do reach a point where the Cowboys agree to part ways with Parsons, there will be no shortage of teams trying to trade for a 26-year-old with three All-Pro team selections in his first four seasons.