Micah Parsons

Jerry Jones Willing To Deal Packers Picks In Right Trade

October 14th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

A loss on Sunday dropped the Cowboys to 2-3-1, although there have been some signs of life. Dallas has collected 178 points through six games, good for third in the NFL. Much of that production has come without offensive star CeeDee Lamb, with the likes of George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and Javonte Williams stepping up.

On the flip side, the Cowboys are rostering one of the worst defenses in the league, as the team’s 184 points allowed is the second-worst mark in the NFL. Jerry Jones believes his team is close to contention and could patch up the defense with some trade acquisitions. In a bit of an ironic twist, the Cowboys owner also acknowledged that he’d consider dealing some of the assets he acquired when he traded away defensive star Micah Parsons.

“If we can improve our team and it makes sense for what we give up in the future, all of it’s there,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have major, major, major resources that we wouldn’t have had had we not made that trade. … I promise you, yours truly or anybody associated with the Cowboys has got our eyes really opened to ways we can help this defense and certainly don’t want to preclude anything on offense, either.

“There’s nothing untouchable in our resources to help our team. And there’s no way that I’m at a point right now to where I would not do something because of where we are into the season, six games. I would go as early as I would if we were talking three games back.”

The Parsons trade sent shockwaves through the league, and his subtraction from the Cowboys defense is a big reason why that unit is struggling at the moment. Still, there’s no denying that the front office received two worthwhile assets in the trade, with Green Bay sending a pair of first-round picks to Dallas. The Cowboys are minus a 2026 third-round pick that was sent to the Steelers in the Pickens trade, but the team is otherwise armed with all of their early- and mid-round picks.

While it seems unlikely that a defensive player would become available that would warrant a first-round pick, it should still be encouraging for Cowboys fans that their owner is willing to deal from their stockpile of draft selections. The team’s performance over the coming weeks will surely influence the organization’s approach to the trade deadline.

Besides potential acquisitions, the Cowboys are also counting on some returning players to add a spark to their defense. Jones said the return of DeMarvion Overshown could influence how the team approaches the trade deadline, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The linebacker is still working his way back from a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL suffered towards the end of the 2024 season, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be back to his former form when he returns to the field. After missing his entire rookie campaign, Overshown showed flashes in 2024, finishing with five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Latest Details On Fallout Between Cowboys, Micah Parsons

September 26th, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Ely Allen

This weekend, star pass rusher Micah Parsons will return to the stadium in which he played the first four years of his NFL career. As many revisit the dramatics that led to his exit from Dallas, a few interesting new details and retellings have emerged.

As many surely remember, the inciting incident that led to some contention between Parsons and the team that drafted him was a one-on-one meeting with team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones. Jones thought that the result of the meeting was a handshake agreement on a contract extension that would’ve netted Parsons $150MM of guaranteed money. Parsons had a different view of the meeting, which he claimed was focused on leadership.

“Nah, obviously he wants to know where I’m at, what I think,” Parsons responded when asked last week if he viewed the meeting as a negotiation, per ESPN’s Todd Archer and Dan Graziano. “I’m thinking, ‘He wants to know where I’m at with the process,’ and that’s what I thought. Obviously, none of that matters now. I’m (in Green Bay).”

Following the meeting, Parsons came back to the table asking executive vice president — and son of the owner — Stephen Jones for more money. The younger Jones took the request to his father and, reportedly, convinced the general manager to increase the offer. Then — according to a report from Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News that contradicts previous reports claiming that Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, never laid eyes on the handshake offer — team officials sent the increased proposal to Mulugheta, and the agent rejected it.

Watkins adds how, at the time, officials with the NFL Players Association explored the idea of discussing Jones’ tactics of cornering players without their agents with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Ultimately, no action was taken, considering the Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn’t forbid owners or general managers from negotiating directly with players, as long as a certified agent is present to finalize a deal with the team.

The reason the NFLPA was concerned was based on this not being the first instance of Jones and his son cornering players without their lawyers. The two defend the tactic, claiming that agents are impartial third parties that may not be around the player for very long, so their goals may not align with the long-term vision of the player like the owner’s might. They contend that the conversations go beyond the numbers, something that Parsons’ former teammate, quarterback Dak Prescott, can attest to with fond memories.

In reality, from the outside, it looks like the Joneses are attempting to utilize a familiarity and fondness with the player to earn more favorable teams for themselves with a potential hometown discount for an agreement. Also, by cutting out the agent, Jones removes a person knowledgeable on all aspects of a contract and its negotiation. As Parsons’ agent framed it, Parsons is an All-Pro defender in the NFL, and it’s unreasonable to expect him to also be an expert contract attorney.

The Joneses defend themselves, claiming that they will only proceed with the negotiations as long as the player is comfortable with it, but it requires them to ask. They say that those players are willing to discuss visions of their future with the team and what that looks like, but once numbers start getting thrown around the players will defer to their agent on those details. Still, negotiating any aspect of a contract without someone fully knowledgeable on the topic, is a bad look in the eyes of many players and agents.

The result of the incidental meeting was a trade request. First, Dallas called the Jets, checking in on the availability of defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Green Bay and Miami were thought to be potential destinations, but the Cowboys looked also at Denver, whose head coach Sean Payton had worked with the team as a Cowboys assistant coach years ago. When Payton didn’t make an offer and a call from the Eagles’ was quickly nixed because of their divisional relation, the Packers emerged as the winner of the sweepstakes.

Parsons reportedly knew his days in Dallas were coming to an end when the team called on him to attend a treatment session on his ailing back. Parsons informed the team that he would need to reschedule, and the Cowboys threatened to fine him if he failed to attend. Two days later, he was headed to Green Bay.

At the start of it all, Mulugheta was seeking a $200MM deal for his star client. The Packers, after giving up defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks, continued to invest in Parsons with a four-year, $188MM extension. Both teams had early letdowns last week with the Cowboys getting blown out in Chicago and the Pack losing to the lowly Browns. While tons of focus will be centered on Parsons, both teams will be looking towards this week’s game as an opportunity to move on in multiple ways.

Cowboys, Jets Discussed Micah Parsons Trade Involving Quinnen Williams

September 14th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the aftermath of the Micah Parsons trade, a number of details have emerged with respect to other potential partners for a swap. Discussions took place between the Cowboys and Jets, but it quickly became clear no agreement would be feasible.

During an appearance on ESPN 880 AM in New York, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) he contacted the Jets about Parsons. His asking price as part of a package from New York general manager Darren Mougey would have included defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. That comes as little surprise since Dallas specifically targeted an addition at that position in the event Parsons were to be dealt.

As one would expect, Mougey and the Jets let it be known in short order no trade would be taking place. Williams, 27, has three Pro Bowls and one first-team All-Pro nod to his name. The former No. 3 pick is well established as a focal point of the team’s defense, and his contract runs through 2027. With $64MM in outstanding compensation, Williams would have been considerably more expensive for the Cowboys than their eventual acquisition (Kenny Clark).

A major reason why the Packers ultimately swung the Parsons trade, of course, was their willingness to make a record-breaking commitment via an extension. The All-Pro edge rusher landed $47MM in AAV on a four-year pact, the highest figure ever for a non-quarterback. Parsons secured over $123MM in full guarantees, as detailed by Cimini’s colleague Rob Demovsky. The 26-year-old will also see $12.09MM – most of his 2028 salary – shift to a full guarantee early in the 2027 league year. Per-game roster bonuses worth up to $200K annually along with $250K workout bonuses are present from 2026-29, with three void years included in the accord.

SNY’s Connor Hughes notes the Jets were never going to match an extension with those terms, nor a pact in line with the informal agreement Parsons and Jones reached early this offseason. New York’s regime led by Mougey and first-year head coach Aaron Glenn made a number of lucrative commitments but prioritized in-house players in the process. Cornerback Sauce Gardner reset the cornerback market while fellow 2022 first-rounder Garrett Wilson also secured a monster second contract. Fitting in Parsons would have substantially altered the Jets’ financial planning for years to come.

Green Bay will instead look to translate the Parsons acquisition into success in 2025 and beyond. The Jets, meanwhile, will aim to end their playoff drought in Year 1 of the Mougey-Glenn era. Williams will be a critical factor in that effort, and he will no doubt be counted on well beyond 2025 as well.

Jerry Jones: No CBA Violation During Micah Parsons Negotiations

September 12th, 2025 at 10:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the negotiating process between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, it became clear agent David Mulugheta was not a participant. An in-person meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones was followed multiple times by unsuccessful attempts on the edge rusher’s part to conduct traditional extension negotiations.

Players without agents conduct contract talks directly with their teams, but such instances are uncommon when it comes to players who have NFLPA certified representation. Mulugheta – long known as one of the most prominent agents in the NFL and who ultimately landed Parsons a Packers extension which moved the bar for non-QB compensation – was not included in the initial Parsons-Jones talks, which the All-Pro attempted to distance himself from through his trade request. Negotiations were not restarted after that took place, leading to an eventual trade agreement with Green Bay.

Interim NFLPA executive director David White commented on the matter of Jones going out of his way to avoid including Mulugheta in negotiations. Meanwhile, Darrell Revis (who has been rumored as a candidate for the full-time executive director position) offered a sharp criticism of the way the Parsons situation was handled. When speaking on the subject, Jones denied the notion that any CBA violations occurred.

“There is no violation, period,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I have all the authority in the world and the player has all the authority in the world to negotiate directly with me. There is no equivocation there… But I will a hundred times [pay] the fine or the penalty [if one is issued].”

To Jones’ point, there is precedent for players working out extensions directly with general managers and having their agents simply finalize the agreement. The Cowboys have taken that route on multiple occasions, with Jones handling a central role given his position as Dallas’ owner but also general manager. On the other hand, monster deals like the Parsons one are not known to be worked out in short order and especially not by means of informal talks where agents are absent.

The Cowboys informed Parsons upon his attempts to resume negotiations in August he would remain in place and play out his fifth-year option or be traded. The latter route was taken, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks heading to Dallas. The timing of the agreement (one week before the start of the season) led to many raised eyebrows around the league and marked a departure from standard procedure for the Cowboys regarding big-ticket extension agreements being worked out late.

Jones has received criticism for the terms of the trade but also the process which resulted in a swap taking place. There have been no indications any kind of discipline will be issued to the Cowboys stemming from the Parsons negotiations, and it is clear Jones does not expect a punishment to be handed down.

Eagles Made Top Offer For Micah Parsons; Bills, Colts, Patriots Also Contacted Cowboys

September 10th, 2025 at 10:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jerry Jones slammed the door on trading Micah Parsons within the division, and while the team had hoped to send him outside the conference, traction did not pick up on such a deal. Thus, the Packers blockbuster that sent Kenny Clark and two first-rounders to the Cowboys for the All-Pro edge rusher.

The Eagles are believed to have made the top offer for Parsons, according to Fox’s Jay Glazer, who indicates the defending Super Bowl champions offered two first-round picks, a third-rounder, a fifth and other unspecified assets in an attempt to convince the Cowboys to deal within the NFC East. As could be expected, this bid did not advance far. The Panthers joined the Eagles in pursuing Parsons, though the Carolina offer was clearly not where Green Bay’s ended up going. Clark’s presence played a major role in closing the deal.

Jones said during a 105.3 The Fan appearance (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) the Cowboys made no counteroffer to the Eagles’ proposal. Considering the Glazer-reported hesitancy about trading Parsons in-conference — something Jones himself did not indicate was part of this process — it would have been shocking to see Parsons traded to Philly. The Eagles are counting on 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt to replace Josh Sweat alongside Nolan Smith, but the team is also playing without the retired Brandon Graham to open the season.

The Cowboys did receive interest from some AFC teams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. The Bills, Colts and Patriots made calls on Parsons, but it does not appear any of these talks progressed too far. Each team was told two first-rounders and a “significant” player would be the baseline trade package. With a record-setting extension also essentially a requirement in this deal, it does not appear any major traction with an AFC team ensued. This surprised the Cowboys, per Glazer.

It is likely more interest from the AFC would have come out had the Cowboys truly shopped Parsons this offseason. The team only internally discussed moving him before the draft; no outside talks took place at that point. Still trying to extend the impact pass rusher at that stage, the Cowboys belatedly pivoted as the relationship deteriorated. Though, Glazer reports Dallas made the decision it would trade Parsons around a week before the deal ultimately went down. This would mean the team was prepared to move on before Parsons’ actions during the team’s final preseason game.

Still, Jones needed staffers to convince him to finally move on, according to Russini. As of mid-August, teams were not convinced Parsons was truly on the table. It looks like it took an effort to sway Jones, who had initially told Cowboys supporters not to lose sleep over Parsons’ trade request. But no resumption of negotiations took place. Jones dug in on the informal talks he had with Parsons this offseason. That effort to go around agent David Mulugheta did not sit well with Parsons, Mulugheta or the NFLPA. The team ended up telling Parsons, who had attempted to relaunch negotiations just before the season, to either play on his fifth-year option or be dealt.

Regarding Jones’ effort to negotiate directly with Parsons, the formerly disgruntled D-end believed the owner steered a conversation about leadership toward contract talks, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Don Van Natta Jr. report. While Parsons initially told Jones to talk to Mulugheta about the contract matter, the player contacted COO Stephen Jones later that day (March 18) to have him up the team’s offer. Parsons asked for “several different elements and increases.”

Mulugheta labeled it “unfair” to ask Parsons to both be a dominant NFL defender and be a great lawyer when it comes to negotiating, and interim NFLPA leader David White said he contacted Jerry Jones about directly negotiating with players tied to agents. Parsons’ agency never saw the terms from the direct Jones-Parsons negotiations, per Fowler and Van Natta.

The Cowboys insist they offered more in guaranteed money, but Dallas was believed to have proposed a five-year extension. Considering the cap increases to commence during this CBA, Parsons viewed — as Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb had before him — that as a too long of a commitment. The Cowboys also are believed to have “heavily” backloaded the deal — one worth $40.5MM per year — and Russini adds only one year of the contract was guaranteed.

This presumably means fully guaranteed, as Jerry Jones had previously informed Michael Irvin he offered Parsons a deal that contained the highest guarantee of any non-QB. The Packers’ willingness to fully guarantee $120MM at signing — well out of character from a team that typically offers non-QBs signing bonus-only guarantee structures — likely differs from the full guarantee in the Cowboys’ proposal. In terms of total guarantees (which cover injury guarantees or triggers that vest later), it is not unreasonable to view Dallas as beating Green Bay’s extension offer — particularly since it was a five-year proposal.

The Cowboys also received the impression, after no extension was reached in March, Parsons wanted to do his deal after the Steelers locked down T.J. Watt, according to Fowler and Van Natta. His initial negotiation with Jerry Jones occurred shortly after the Myles Garrett deal, helping explain the $40.5MM-AAV offer (as Garrett is signed to a $40MM-per-year Browns extension).

Understandably, Parsons believed he would “blow away” the deals given to Watt and Garrett due to being more than three years younger than either future Hall of Famer. The Packers’ four-year, $186MM proposal — which reset the EDGE market by more than $5MM per year — proved him accurate there.

Dallas, which is now considering Jadeveon Clowney to help its post-Parsons pass rush, drafted 2024 Division I-FBS sack leader Donovan Ezeiruaku in Round 2. That marked the third time in four years the Cowboys used a second-round pick on a defensive end (after choosing Sam Williams in 2022 and Marshawn Kneeland last year). The Cowboys did not view the Ezeiruaku pick as Parsons insurance, per Fowler and Van Natta, as the plan at the time was to have the Boston College product develop as a Parsons sidekick.

While Prescott had said he was surprised by the trade, Fowler and Van Natta add the DE’s behavior during training camp — when he staged a de facto hold-in while using a back injury — rubbed many staffers and players the wrong way. Parsons’ energy during camp was “deflating,” per the ESPN duo. However, Trevon Diggs said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) he did not believe any Cowboys players had an issue with Parsons.

Playing only 45% of the Packers’ defensive snaps in his debut, Parsons registered his first sack with his new team in a dominant home win over the Lions. It was believed Parsons was still dealing with the back injury ahead of Week 1, but he is not in danger of missing Week 2 (a Thursday-night assignment against the Commanders) on short rest. While the Cowboys attempt to replace Parsons, the Packers will attempt to unleash the well-paid trade asset in the weeks to come. Though, the fallout from this megadeal figures to last years in Dallas and Green Bay.

Packers Tried To Trade For Trey Hendrickson Prior To Micah Parsons Acquisition

September 6th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers made a major investment – in terms of acquisition cost and the finances needed for an extension – by adding Micah Parsons. The now ex-Cowboy is not the only notable edge rusher Green Bay targeted this offseason.

Before the Parsons trade, the Packers were among the top suitors for Trey Hendrickson, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Cincinnati fielded calls through the spring for the 2024 sack leader. Green Bay was among the teams which showed the most interest in Hendrickson, per Rapoport, who adds an offer was made to the Bengals.

Hendrickson’s future was again in question for much of the 2025 offseason. The Bengals allowed him to seek out a trade, differing from their stance on the matter in previous years. As Rapoport notes, though, retaining him was always Cincinnati’s preference. An agreement was reached on the length and value of a long-term extension, but the gap between team and player on guarantees could not be bridged.

As a result, Hendrickson agreed to a straight raise for 2025 without any new years being added to his pact. Efforts to work out a top-up did not begin until training camp, during which Hendrickson did not practice until his revised deal was in place. By that point, the Packers had been in contact about a trade, with a splashy addition along the edge being seen as a key priority.

Rapoport notes Kenny Clark would have been included in a Hendrickson-to-Green Bay deal, although the Packers were not willing to part with him during their initial discussions with the Bengals. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle ultimately wound up being on the move when Green Bay sent him and a pair of first-round picks to Dallas for Parsons. At 26, Parsons obviously represents a longer-term investment from the Packers’ perspective than Hendrickson, who will turn 31 in December.

The Eagles made a push to acquire Parsons, but to no surprise the Cowboys were not willing to deal the four-time Pro Bowler within the division. Carolina also showed interest, although no offer was made in that case. Green Bay won out based on the team’s willingness to part with Clark but also to extend Parsons on a $47MM-per-year pact, the most in NFL history for non-quarterbacks.

The back issue Parsons has been dealing with through the summer led to questions about his Week 1 availability. He is expected to suit up tomorrow, with Rapoport noting a full workload is unlikely. Having arrived one week before the start of the season, Parsons will ramp up early in the year in advance of an every-down role with his new team. The Packers are banking on a high-profile EDGE addition helping them join the NFC’s elite, something illustrated by their eventual Parsons acquisition but also the Hendrickson pursuit which preceded it.

Eagles, Panthers Showed Interest In Micah Parsons Trade

September 5th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last night’s season opener began the post-Micah Parsons era for the Cowboys. Dallas’ decision to trade away the All-Pro one week before their regular season began came as a shock to many and took place after interest from a number of suitors was shown.

Following Parsons’ trade request, teams around the league did not view a swap as realistic. Dallas’ stance shifted over time, however, and calls came in before the team informed Parsons and his camp he would be play out his fifth-year option in 2025 or be dealt. Further details have now emerged regarding the trade market which took shape.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Eagles made a “strong push” to acquire Parsons this offseason. That comes as little surprise, of course. General manager Howie Roseman has a reputation for being aggressive in pursuing impact roster moves, and adding Parsons to the fold would have helped offset the losses Philadelphia suffered in the pass rush department during free agency. Josh Sweat took a Cardinals pact on the open market while Brandon Graham retired and Bryce Huff was traded to the 49ers.

The Eagles made a pair low-cost investments in Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche, inking both to one-year pacts. Their projected impacts pale in comparison to what Parsons would have been counted on to contribute, of course. In any case, a homecoming for the Pennsylvania native and Penn State product did not receive serious consideration on Dallas’ part. As Schefter notes – and as Jerry Jones stated in his post-draft press conference last week – the Cowboys were not willing to trade Parsons within the division.

In addition to the Packers, other NFC suitors were present in this case. One of those was the Panthers, per Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler. He notes Carolina called about Parsons and showed interest in a potential trade. No formal offer was made by general manager Dan Morgan, however. The Cowboys targeted a defensive tackle upgrade when evaluating partners for a Parsons trade, meaning Derrick Brown would have been involved in any serious discussions had they taken place. The Panthers opted to keep Brown (instead of wideout D.J. Moore) in place when trading with the Bears for the No. 1 pick in 2023, so it comes as no surprise Carolina was not as aggressive as other suitors.

Fowler adds Parsons was “intrigued” by a few destinations, with the Packers being one of them. Before his trade (and record-breaking extension) was in place, though, the 26-year-old also showed interest in joining the Chiefs and Ravens. Per Fowler, Kansas City was never truly in contention to pull off the move. Baltimore, like other teams, would have been hard-pressed to fit a Parsons deal into future cap planning; the Ravens also would have faced a logjam along the edge had no outside linebackers been sent back in the trade.

In the end, the Packers agreed to send Kenny Clark and their first-round pick in the next two drafts to the Cowboys for Parsons. The effects of the deal will be felt by both organizations for years to come, while other suitors will move forward with their current setups on the edge.

More Parsons/Cowboys Fallout: Negotiations, Extension Length, NFLPA

September 3rd, 2025 at 9:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a mid-March meeting between Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, the Cowboys owner was left with the belief that he reached an extension agreement with his star pass rusher. That deal obviously never came to fruition, ultimately culminating in last week’s stunning blockbuster trade with the Packers.

Following that fateful meeting, Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, claims he made several attempts to resume negotiations with the organization. However, Jones apparently stuck to his apparent handshake agreement and refused to return to the the negotiating table.

“To expect somebody like Micah Parsons to be one of the best defenders in the NFL and also a great lawyer when it comes to contracts, I think it’s a bit unfair,” Mulugheta said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” yesterday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and Todd Archer). “His job is to go out there and chase quarterbacks, and our job is to go out there and chase commas for him. I’m not sure exactly why it went this way, but we were always prepared and open to negotiating a contract with the Jones family.”

Mulugheta made it clear that his client always wanted to remain a Cowboy, and despite the public stare down with the organization, Parsons would have suited up for Week 1 without a new contract. That made Jones’ refusal to resume negotiations especially frustrating for the player’s camp.

“If you’re a [then-]25-year-old football player and your boss, who happens to be the most powerful person in the NFL, starts talking about contracts, it’s hard for you to end that conversation,” Mulugheta said. “So they had a conversation. Micah nodded his head out of respect.

“Obviously there’s a power dynamic that’s a little different there. One guy’s the owner of the team and the GM, and the other one is Micah Parsons, a young 25-year-old football player. So, I’m not sure if there was miscommunication there by the time Micah walked out, but at no point did Micah believe that he was negotiating a contract.”

While there apparently wasn’t much back-and-forth between the two sides, it sounds like the Cowboys still had a definitive contract on the table. Jones claimed they offered Parsons a contract that would have made him the highest-paid non-QB in league history, and sources told ESPN that the offer exceeded $150MM. However, the main difference in the Cowboys’ standing offer and the four-year, $188MM deal Parsons ultimately accepted from the Packers was the length. As Mulugheta notes, the Cowboys were sticking to a five-year offer, a contract that the agent believes would have cost his client about $60MM to $70MM in future earnings.

There was also some belief that Jones was potentially circumventing CBA rules by attempting to negotiate with Parsons directly. The interim leader of the NFL Players’ Association, David White, seemed to tiptoe around the controversy when asked about the matter.

“We intend to enforce every provision of the collective bargaining agreement when we think that there may be a violation,” White said (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press). “And the best way to do that is to call people and say: ‘Knock it off.’ When both sides are able to do that, when needed, that usually makes for a productive management-labor relationship. When it doesn’t work, for whatever reason, that’s when you take it to the next level, which is to file a grievance to go to court, or to take whatever action is available to you under the collective bargaining agreement. In this instance, and here you’re talking about Jerry and Micah and their representatives and the other folks involved, I will say Micah has found his way to Green Bay with a contract that he has publicly stated makes him happy, and that makes us happy.”

One contender for the full-time NFLPA executive director job was a bit more pointed in his criticism. Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis took to social media to question whether Jones should be held accountable. Revis suggested that the NFLPA could look into a grievance against the Cowboys, although he acknowledged that the subsequent fine would only amount “to pennies.”

“At the very least, the NFLPA should be saying it does not condone what Jerry is doing, that all options are on the table, and reminding players that if ownership ever tries to deal with them directly while represented, they should contact their agent and the union immediately,” Revis wrote. “The bigger issue is respect. Jerry’s actions show that owners have no problem taking advantage of us, and when our union fails to respond, it sends the message that they’ll be able to do the same in the next CBA negotiations if the current leadership remains in place.”

Packers’ Micah Parsons Uncertain To Play In Week 1?

September 2nd, 2025 at 9:50am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 2: During a Tuesday appearance on First Take, agent David Mulugheta said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) Parsons’ back is feeling “much better” following the use of the corticosteroid. He added Parsons will push to play on Sunday, although his workload will be something to monitor.

SEPTEMBER 1: Through much of the Cowboys-Micah Parsons saga, back tightness was cited as the reason he did not participate in training camp practices. Following last week’s blockbuster trade to the Packers, Parsons is still dealing with the issue.

The All-Pro edge rusher has a facet joint sprain in his fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This ailment — clearly a legitimate one, rather than a simple negotiating ploy during extension talks which proved to be rather contentious — has resulted in at least a degree of uncertainty regarding whether Parsons will play in Week 1, Schefter adds. Green Bay’s season kicks off Sunday against the Lions.

If Parsons is to suit up, an epidural injection may be required. The Cowboys had the four-time Pro Bowler on a plan involving the use of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid for five days along with a physical therapy program prior to the trade. Parsons had been cleared by Dallas’ medical staff before seeking out a second opinion.

Parsons went through a limited Packers practice in his first workout — the first true practice work he has gone through since last season — but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Matt Schneidman and Zach Powell add a full practice is possible later this week and that it would surprise if Parsons is not at least in uniform for some part-time work against the Lions. When asked about his health at his Packers introductory presser, Parsons described himself as “great” physically.

“Physically, I’m great. I think I can contribute a lot,” Parsons said. “I’m going to team up with the doctors in creating a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable. But my plan is to be here. They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that, so I’m going to give them my all.”

Green Bay sent two first-round picks and nine-year defensive tackle starter Kenny Clark to Dallas for Parsons, and the trade haul has been widely viewed as insufficient for a player on Parsons’ trajectory. While the Cowboys’ trade timing has drawn more scrutiny, Parsons having a genuine back issue does inject some risk for the Packers. Green Bay brass is clearly unconcerned through a long-term lens, as evidenced by the record-smashing extension (four years, $186MM), but the superstar’s short-term status will need to be monitored as his first Packers season nears.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Micah Parsons Trade Fallout: Financials, Cowboys, Packers

August 30th, 2025 at 3:43pm CST by Ely Allen

When the Micah Parsons trade from Dallas to Green Bay was reported, we had a good number of details concerning the new contract Parsons would sign with the Packers. To reiterate, we listed it as a four-year, $188MM deal with $136MM in total guarantees ($120MM guaranteed at signing). Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, $44MM of those guarantees will be in the form of his signing bonus.

Pelissero continued his breakdown of the deal. Base salaries for the next two years of $1.17MM in 2025 and $2.39MM in 2026 are fully guaranteed, while the base salary of 2027 ($3.11MM) is guaranteed for injury. Option bonuses in 2026 ($38MM) and 2027 ($34.44MM) are fully guaranteed at signing, as well. Any remaining guarantees (approximately $12.89MM) would be partially guaranteed from his 2028 base salary of $40.55MM. In 2029, the final year of the deal, Parsons would have a base salary of $43.55MM and a $1MM 90-man bonus.

Parsons will also receive per game active roster bonuses of $11,764 which could total and additional $200K in each season. Every year from 2027-29 offers $250K Pro Bowl and All-Pro escalators, and 2029 holds additional $250K incentives for making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst expressed how he “really likes” Parsons’ salary cap numbers for the next three years, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, and it makes sense that he drew the line at three. Those cap hits are $9.97MM in 2025, $19.24MM in 2026, and $26.85MM in 2027. Once you jump into Year 4, though, Parsons’ cap hit goes to $64.29MM in 2028 and $68.29MM in 2029.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out that Parsons will be subject to Wisconsin’s state income tax on games played in Green Bay, whereas Texas has no state income tax, so that portion was not withheld for Cowboys home games. Schefter’s crude calculation removing 7.65 percent from Parsons’ annual value may be a bit understated; regardless, it still leaves Parsons with more money after taxes than the deal Dallas had offered to him.

Here are a few more fallout items coming out of the monumental trade from two days ago:

On the Cowboys’ side of things, this week’s trade freed up $19MM of 2025 cap space. Now with an estimated $42MM in free salary cap space, Dallas is second in the NFL in that regard, behind only the Patriots ($52MM), according to Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac.
The Cowboys may end up using that cap space, too. Pelissero quoted team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones saying, “Nothing says we can’t use some of those picks right now to go get somebody right now.” The team has four first-round picks in the next two years, but if both teams remain playoff contenders, how much value does the draft capital hold? It may make more sense to bring in some immediate contributors by trading the first-rounders and absorbing their extra cap hits with the team’s ample cap space.
Pelissero also noted, in an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, that this move is out of character for the Packers. He notes that, for decades, Green Bay has been reportedly close to deals for players like wide receiver Randy Moss or tight end Tony Gonzalez, but the deals have always fallen just short as the Packers balk at giving up more compensation than they’re comfortable with. He also notes that they haven’t traded a first-round pick (let alone two first-round picks) since they acquired quarterback Brett Favre in 1992. The reason they’re willing to do so now? We’ve seen recent Super Bowl champions be extremely active in the trade market. The Eagles, Chiefs, and, most notably, the Rams have all made ambitious win-now moves when they felt they were closest to contention. While there’s certainly an art to building a team through the draft and developing a culture and roster, once you get to a certain point, one or two big moves for impact players could be the factor that wins a Super Bowl, and a player like Parsons is definitely of that caliber.

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