Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reaffirmed a hard stance in the team’s extension negotiations with Micah Parsons on Thursday, insisting that the two sides had already agreed to a deal and blaming the lack of progress on Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta.
“When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our [expletive],” said Jones in an interview with Michael Irvin. Mulugheta has since denied that claim, per Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS.
“We had our agreement on term, amount, guarantees, everything,” continued Jones, referencing a conversation he had with Parsons earlier this offseason. “We’ve got this deal resolved, in my mind, for the Dallas Cowboys.” Jones also said that his agreement with Parsons “would have made him the highest guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL.”
“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I offered him,” added Jones. That offer, according to Hill, was worth more than $40MM per year with almost $200MM in guaranteed money.
However, Parsons has since demanded that the Cowboys reach out to Mulugheta to finalize the contract. Jones, believing he already had a deal, hasn’t been willing to do that, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Parsons said upon requesting a trade he viewed his conversation with Jones as informal and that Mulugheta needed to be brought into the loop to conduct true negotiations.
A $200MM guarantee of any sort would also suggest the Cowboys offered an extension beyond four years or potentially beyond five; we heard earlier this offseason term length could pose an issue in this negotiation. No EDGE is tied to a guarantee beyond $124MM, and the top DEs and rush OLBs are on three- or four-year deals. While the Cowboys traditionally prefer longer-term structures, players — for the most part — are not signing committing to teams beyond four years anymore.
Jones has a well-documented history of trying to negotiate directly with players rather than through their agents and referenced such agreements with Irvin in their interview. He also revealed that he once shut down negotiations with a prospective coach because he wanted to involve an “advisor.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me…talking directly to a player,” Jones said. But there might be.
In 2023, the NFL sent a memo to every team regarding a non-NFLPA certified agent trying to negotiate on the behalf of Lamar Jackson, per Around The NFL’s Nick Shook. That memo included a reminder that, under Article 48 of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, “an Offer Sheet, which may result in an NFL Player Contract, may only be negotiated with the player, if he is acting on his own behalf, or with the player’s NFLPA certified agent.” The memo also warned that “Violation of this rule may result in disapproval of any Offer Sheet or resulting Player Contract entered into by Mr. Jackson and the new Club.”
At the end of the interview, Jones leaned on Irvin to reach out Parsons personally to set up a meeting with Jones and “bridge this gap.”
“His agent should be involved in terms of papering it and all that kind of stuff,” said Jones, but he maintained his position that agents shouldn’t be involved in negotiations beyond formalities and paperwork.
Jones also referenced the potential to place the franchise tag on Parsons in 2026 and 2027 on multiple occasions.
“We can have him three years without having this agreement,” said Jones, comparing the situation to the Cowboys’ use of the franchise tag on Dak Prescott in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s exactly what happened with Dak,” explained Jones. “The precedent is handling it like Dak.” However, as noted by Hill, Prescott did not entertain direct talks with the Cowboys and forced them to negotiate with his agent. That eventually resulted in a four-year, $160MM agreement reached shortly after the tag was applied in 2021. By waiting as long as they did to extend Prescott, the Cowboys gave him what became overwhelming leverage. That chain of events led to the extraordinarily player-friendly extension agreed to in September 2024.
Parsons is set to make $24MM on his fifth-year option this season. He was designated as a defensive end for his fifth-year option, which would likely continue for the franchise tag, resulting in a projected cost of $26.54MM in 2026 and $31.84MM in 2027, per OverTheCap. Obviously, $58.38MM over two years is significantly less than what Parsons stands to earn from an extension with the Cowboys.
Jones also seemed to issue a warning to his star player against holding out into the regular season: “In this particular case, then Micah comes in and plays this year under his contract. If he doesn’t, it’s very costly. Very costly for everybody.”
For now, the lack of communication between Parson and the Cowboys is a fundamental obstacle to any progress in negotiations, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Parsons issues his trade request nearly three weeks ago. A lack of communication by this point — for a franchise that prolonged Prescott and CeeDee Lamb negotiations last year — does not reflect well on the Cowboys’ negotiating strategies.
“You can’t get a deal done if you’re not even talking,” said Schefter on his podcast. “The two sides haven’t had any negotiations since late March or early April. And it sounds like at this point it’s personal. It sounds like each side is dug in.”
“Both sides seem to be angry,” added Schefter, who noted that other teams have resolved similar situations but said that may not be the result in this case.
“I see these two sides headed towards a divorce in time,” continued Schefter. “It certainly doesn’t feel like these two sides want to enter a long-term relationship together.” Jones, meanwhile, clearly believes that he has a longer runway to keep Parsons in Dallas.
“We’ve really got three years to work this thing out,” Jones told Irvin.
Indeed, according to The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, the relationship between the two sides “has not deteriorated to the point of an imminent divorce from the team’s perspective” and “the club remains unrattled at this time.” But Jones’ comments Thursday have not helped matters. Parsons took the step of removing Cowboys material from his X page. That is fairly standard practice during contentious negotiations, but it does not appear the sides are anywhere close to a resolution at this point. That would put Parsons to a decision, as a holdout would be the next step here.
All the money in the world doesn’t make you smarter than everyone else. More arrogant, maybe.
Cowboys will be much better off when Jones is out of the picture.
Not when his son is a chip off the old block.
Okay, Jerry, you had an agreement. Talk to the agent anyway.
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if the player’s union voided a contract because of how Jerrah negotiated it?
THIS!! In my opinion if an owner tries to circumvent that players agent, he should automatically become a UFA. I can’t understand how this is even remotely tolerated. There should be massive fines teams face for doing this too. Maybe I’m being dramatic but this to me is one of the most unethical things an owner can do. He should be HEAVILY penalized for it
You’re right. You’re being overly dramatic.
Call me nuts( Lot of people do), But if I tell you I have an agent, Why are you even talking to me? Isn’t that the same thing as if some lawyer calls me and says the want to settle with me if we have a beef after I told him I have a lawyer? This really shouldn’t even happen right? All’s fair in Texas courts I guess.
Several comments on here all are saying similar things I am. You think it’s ok for an owner to refuse to talk to a players representation? How fair is that to a player?
KC you’re spot on.
If Jones won’t negotiate with the agent, the franchise should be fined and forced to surrender their highest draft choice by the league. This is absolutely absurd. It’s not as if anyone is forcing Jones to play GM, he’s doing it to the detriment of his own team, while trying to make his own set of rules.
“ If Jones won’t negotiate with the agent, the franchise should be fined and forced to surrender their highest draft choice by the league.”
Or just nullify any contract agreement Parson and Jones make like the rules already stat
Not wanting to talk to an agent isn’t ground for any punishment. Negotiating with only the player instead of NFLPA rep is.
“he’s doing it to the detriment of his own team, while trying to make his own set of rules”
Funny considering you want to make your own set of rules as to what the punishment for jones should be
Pot meet kettle
The agent IS the approved player rep.
The union does not negotiate contracts for players.
NFLPA rep = NFLPA representative which is what agents are. They’re approved by the NFLPA to conduct business and represent players during contract negotiations on behalf of player interests which is what the NFLPA sole existence is…..to protect players, players rights, players interests. If you as an agent aren’t approved by the NFLPA as an official rep you can’t conduct business with NFL teams.
I want to make my own rules? Lolol!!
The league has NEVER, EVER voided a player contract to punish a team. They can void them for going over a cap or player misconduct, but that isn’t what this is. So, I’m calling for something that has been done many, many times before as a franchise punishment- it’s called precedent. Look it up.
You’re proposing something without precedent, and that’d surely have legal fights to follow.
The memo also warned that “Violation of this rule may result in disapproval of any Offer Sheet or resulting Player Contract entered into by Mr. Jackson and the new Club.”
“ That would seem to run afoul of Article 48 as outlined by the league’s 2023 memo and potentially nullify a contract resulting from direct negotiations.”
Read. The. Article
“Offer sheet or RESULTING player contract.”
Read. The. Sentence.
The contract he is on is not a resulting contract.
Exactly
And if Parsons were to enter a contract without his agent and was not representing himself the most the league could do is nullify the contract.
“That would seem to run afoul of Article 48 as outlined by the league’s 2023 memo and potentially NULLIFY A CONTRACT RESULTING FROM DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS.”
“ Violation of this rule may result in DISAPPEOVAL OF ANY OFFER SHEET OR RESULTING PLAYER CONTRACT ENTERED.”
Hope caps helps. Though I doubt it.
They won’t strip Jones and the Cowboys their highest draft pick and fine them if Jones and Parsons agree to a contract without Parsons agent or even discuss a contract without Parsons agent. Most they’ll do is nullify it.
Your. Idea. Was. Dumb.
But, but he lol’d you …
Doesn’t that win any argument?
This is also why I don’t believe any of this to be real. I think the players are in on it too. They play along with Jerry with their closed door meetings and “make it a show”. In return they get a bigger paycheck cuz Jerry drags it out for the media attention. One of these players would have made a much bigger fuss by now, I think the whole thing is WWE and the players are in on it
Jones is a lunatic.
“I own that boy”—Jerry probably
Technically he ain’t wrong 🤷🏻♂️
Lmao
So according to Jones, Mulugheta was obstructing negotiations by insisting on being a go-between representing Parsons’ interests? Like some sort of operative or associate or… hmmm, what’s another word… agent?
Gasp
I hope this rule breaking gm jerk is the gm another 20 years so this team can continue to be irrelevant.
Great job he’s done not winning.
I love it and it is UNFORGETTABLE!
that deal with the devil for a singular ring has me feeling like maybe there is something out there for the first time in my life, based on results.
A singular ring? They’ve won 3 of those since he bought the team.
Ah you are unaware of the deal which was made.
link to reddit.com
You do realize Jerry is 82 years old. He’s got maybe 10 years left.
Imagine if a prosecutor insisted on only working cases where the defendant is defending themselves. That’s the level of shady Jerry Jones is.
All pro sports should have rules saying teams can’t negotiate directly with the player. Not all athletes carried a 4.0 GPA in school and could easily be/are manipulated. There is no doubt in my mind that this plays a part in Jones’ desire to negotiate directly.
Imagine thinking that an agent is more virtuous than any of the owners out there. The agents are trying to squeeze as much out of these contracts for the players for their cut for their personal benefit. Are they looking to make sure that the players don’t get screwed contractually sure, but let’s not pretend that they are looking out for the players best interest.
“Are they looking to make sure that the players don’t get screwed contractually sure, but let’s not pretend that they are looking out for the players best interest.”
Which one is it?
“but let’s not pretend that they are looking out for the players best interest.”
No one is pretending this. All anyone is saying is that an owner should not be directly negotiating with a player unless that player represents themselves as an agent, like Lamar Jackson.
Jerry Jones makes me feel sorry for Cowboys fans.
That should never happen.
Old rich oil guys need to go.
I thought that the current climate was to feel sorry for billionaires …
Jerry is a clueless jackwagon. Excluding the agent from contract negotiations is something only a moron, or someone who disregards all rules, would do. I hope Micah never plays for the Cowboys again.
Micah should announce he’s retiring until Jerry Jones is dead. I don’t think it would be a long retirement.
I’m glad Jerry is even more delusional than last week 🍿🤣
I don’t know what makes Jerry Jones seem more delusional between saying Micah’s agent is obstructing negotiations while he is intentionally being kept in the dark or pointing to the trainwreck that is Dak’s contract as a point in Jerry’s favor. If I’m Micah though and this drags out into next offseason in similar fashion I’d seriously consider filing a civil lawsuit against Jones for negotiating in bad faith.
Yeah, no judge anywhere is gonna bother listening to a civil lawsuit like that. They’ll just throw it out and say figure it out yourselves. Waste of everyone’s time. Cause then you’d open a can of worms saying any player who can’t reach an agreement with a team and gets franchise tag could file bad faith lawsuits against the team cause they didn’t reach an extension agreement. That won’t happen and that door won’t be opened.
To prove bad faith you’d have to establish a valid contract. Doesn’t exist. Since they’re “negotiating” a new one. Teams aren’t obligated to sign guys past rookie contracts and cowboys aren’t violating the current contract
Breach of duty. If jones doesn’t want to talk to the agent he doesn’t have to…..but then parsons doesn’t have to talk to jones. The two can play out the franchise tag game or whatever.
Unreasonable or unfair conduct. Not the first time teams haven’t talked to agents. Plenty of times teams not looking to resign guys didn’t meet or talk to their agents. You’d be hard pressed legally speaking to say only jones is only one being unreasonable cause then you can say parsons is being unreasonable in his contract demands (% guaranteed, aav, length, structure, etc) and go tic for tat.
Damages. Parsons isn’t losing any more currently. Rules are pretty specific about guys that don’t show up to camp or miss games who are under contract and the financial implications. So damages don’t exist.
@69th rounder 420th HOFer
I know the lawsuit would be dismissed and rightfully so. But by simply filing the lawsuit Micah and his lawyers would have to present their arguments/evidence to try to convince a judge to allow the suit to go to trial and that information would then be on public record. I didn’t fully dive into my depth of thought in my original post but essentially it would be more about causing a PR nightmare for Jerry and attempting to extract a little more leverage in negotiations than winning the lawsuit.
Both Jerry and Micah have taken public shots at each other and if the situation has turned from professional to personal that could be an option to pursue. Granted it’s a nuclear option that could blow up in everyone’s face. Also thanks for the well thought and articulated response.
One problem is Micah is still under contract for this season; Jones does not have to negoiate anything for the next three seasons if he doesn’t want to. The problem that the players agreed to through the NFLPA was the franchise tag. You don’t have that tag Jerry would not have as much leverage, then Micah could play out this year and be a FA in 2026 instead of being where he is now. Trying to renegotiate is never easy when you are already under contract basically right now for three more years it is nearly impossible.
Jones is a complete schmuck.
It’s hard to be a cowboys fan these days. Most news is about off the field stuff. I can’t remember the last “good” cowboys article. They have a terrible team with an overrated qb as the top paid player in NFL history. 30 years and counting. Just makes no sense to continue supporting them while Jerry Jones is only in it for the money and the spotlight
Here’s the Cowboys’ schedule the first 4 weeks:
Philadelphia away. Thursday-night season opener on NBC.
New York Giants home. Noon kickoff in Dallas, likely to be regional only on Fox.
Chicago away. Sunday doubleheader game to 90 percent of the country on Fox.
Green Bay home. Sunday-night showcase on NBC.
Hate on the Pokes all you want, but the NFL and TV still see them Cowboys as America’s Team.
I’m a cowboys fan not a homer. The cowboys are a joke when it comes to winning football games. They are great when it comes to being in the spotlight and making money
It feels strange to be defending Jerry after all the times I’ve knocked him but there was a time when a man’s word and handshake was all that was needed to seal a deal. It was a better world then.
Not when one of the guys shaking hands went behind the agent’s back to call a meeting a with the client so he could negotiate a deal without the agent there.
Well if Parsons met privately with Jerry then he went behind the agents back too (unless he told his agent about the meeting but stated he wanted to go alone).
Parsons has already said Jerry wanted to talk about leadership but when he got there Jerry changed the conversation to his contract.
Why would Jerry want to talk about leadership with a guy who is clearly an idiot? lol.
Jerry Jones is a bony 112 lb sack of human ****.
Wow, if true. turned down 40 mil per with 200mil guaranteed? wow.
If Lamar can do it, Micah can do it. Put those top level educations you apparently received to good work and represent yourself.
Lamar chose not to have an agent. Laremy Tunsil chose not to have an agent. Micah Parsons chose to have an agent. The team has to go through the agent.
That’s what I’m saying, Parson should ditch his agent.
I’m not saying he should go without an agent. Most players should have agents.
Just pay the man Jerry. You know you’re going to in the end.
All of the argument above and bluster from all sides really comes down to this. Jerry is probably going to approve a megadeal for Parsons. It’s just a question of when he does it.
Jerry jones tactic for low balling offer.
Imagine thinking that $40 plus million per year with close to $200 million in guarantees to be the highest paid non-QB in league history is considered a low ball offer.
Imagine not understanding the concept that if you are worth more than $200 million in guarantees, then $200 million in guarantees is a low ball offer. I guess Juan Soto should have just taken $200 million in guarantees from the Nationals several years ago instead of eventually signing for $700+ million.
Jerry has the leverage, he has Micah under contract for 2026, the franchise tag for 2027 and 2028. Micah cannot afford to sit out for 3 years, he will be losing a lot of money, Jerry will just let it ride. Jerry’s Cowboys will sell out every game win or lose. So, it will be the same outcome, Jerry will let Micah sit, he has a contract, he will put him on the restricted list. Jerry will not trade him as he as stated before. So, Micah is no holding anything but air right now. Jerry has done this before, he won’t give in.
He really doesn’t have to sit out for three years, though. If Micah develops a “sore back” for most of this season, it forces Dallas to make a decision on the tag. Granted, they’d probably do it anyway. At that point though, if you’re Micah, you cut off negotiations and announce you’ll play out the tags and leave. That forces Dallas to trade him for something, or risk losing him for nothing. And yes, Jerry could just dig in- but do you really want to burn that much of your cap to take a stand on that hill?
Micah ought to just change agents as it appears the biggest bump in the road is this particular agent. OR I might be wrong.
Go get that Rosenhaus that typically manages to bring players he represents more cash than they deserve.
Let Jerry deal with another hotshot!
Parsons has the agent who got Deshaun Watson far and away the most guaranteed money in NFL history. I think he’s just fine at getting players more cash than they deserve. Jones is pretty clearly the bump in this road.
It’s an interesting idea, though. What if Parsons went from Mulugheta to Rosenhaus or someone else? Would Jerry suddenly be willing to talk to him/her?
At this point, the bad blood is so pronounced that there’s exactly zero chance of Parsons ditching his agent, and I’m not suggesting that he do so, but it would be an interesting development. None of us are really in the room to know what was agreed on or promised, but the public show by Jones (and to a lesser extent, Parsons) definitely makes the hurdles here much more than just financial in nature.
“Exactly zero chance of Parsons ditching his agent”
Right because you have inside info on what Parsons is thinking. Nope just talking out your a$$ about something you have no idea about
I am, but aren’t we all? I think there’s plenty of reason to believe that Parsons blames Jerry for the current situation, and not his representative. In either case, the point of my comment was that it would be interesting if Parsons did ditch his agent, and suddenly negotiations picked up. That was the observation.
If you have inside information, you have more than I (or any of us to my knowledge) do. Feel free to share.
Dude just doesn’t want to sign another free agent ever.
As has been highlighted, Jerry likes the limelight, enjoys the questions, loves flaunting his money and being king cowboy. With that comes I’ve money to buy whatever I want at whatever cost because I’m the richest owner (is he?) and I’m the big boss.
Remember when he bucked the nfl about sponsorship tags, I do what I want.