Micah Parsons showed up to Dallas Cowboys mandatory minicamp but that doesn’t mean he took part in practice. In-fact, Parsons spent the majority of the day having a lengthy conversation with team owner Jerry Jones.
And as Cowboys beat reporter Clarence Hill Jr described it, it was Jerry that did the majority of the talking.
Parsons and the Cowboys are in the midst of a contract dispute as Parsons’ is looking to become the highest paid pass rusher in the NFL. The current highest paid pass rusher is Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, who inked a four-year, $160 million extension earlier this offseason.
Parsons did share that he’s confident a deal gets done before training camp in August.
“I’m pretty hopeful,” Parsons said. “I understand that it’s up to (Jones). He gives the green light on everything. Hopefully, something will be done by next month.”
Parsons skipped out on voluntary OTAs but made it a priority to report for mandatory minicamp, despite ongoing contract negotiations. He pointed to his relationship with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and his desire to be a leader in the locker room as key reasons for his presence. He also saved himself from being fined by the team because unlike OTAs, minicamp is mandatory.
“[It’s] for me and my relationship with our new head coach to understand where he’s coming from and help him in any way I can to go on this run,” he said at the start of the offseason program. “Schotty’s showed up to my event, and Schotty’s been around to try and build relationships. So I feel like we’re at the point where if he asks her for me to come in for the leadership aspect, and to be around the guys, and show face, that’s something I wanna do for my coach.
“I mean, for me, it’s not really like walking the walk. It’s just me. Like I always said, I’ve wanted to be a Cowboy and being here,I feel like it’s really just being me. I’ve been as real as possible since I’ve been here.”
So what about training camp?
“We’ll see,” Parsons said. “It’s time to tell.”
