Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has made headlines by expressing an unconventional view for a star player on the brink of a massive contract negotiation.
Parsons suggested there’s little difference between earning $30 million and $40 million annually – provided the player is in the right situation.
He doubled down on that sentiment, signaling a readiness to prioritize team-building over personal earnings.
When asked if being the top defensive earner would still be nice, Parsons shifted the focus to surrounding himself with talent.
“It would be nice to be surrounded by good players,’ Parsons said. “Players that will help me win championships, I’ll say that. To me, having $40 million and being chipped every play and slid into three, four people, that doesn’t sound too fun to me.
“So, to me, it’s about keeping people that can make a difference and obviously we’re going to get Sam [Williams] back, some players back.
“We’ll see how it breaks down, but I want to keep as many guys as possible. They will make the cap work, I don’t know.”
When pressed further about his financial expectations, Parsons displayed a sense of humor when asked if he needs to be at the $40 million per year mark.
“No, I don’t need 40,” Parsons replied.
“I need to be somewhere where I can have a lake house,” he said. “It could be anywhere, it could be a lake house in Lake Tahoe, you don’t know.”
Parsons emphasized his desire to work with the Cowboys to structure a deal that would free up cap space for other moves.
His current $24 million cap hit in 2025 could be reduced significantly with a long-term extension.
“I want to be back with this team,” he said. “This offseason, I want to be here. I want to get these guys right. I want to take big steps, so hopefully it can be done sooner than later so we can attack the offseason.”
Parsons’ willingness to accept less could provide a significant advantage to the Cowboys, who have had to navigate hefty contracts in recent years.
A “hometown discount” from Parsons would be music to the ears of Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office.
What are your thoughts on Parsons’ comments?
Do you think he’s being truthful and genuine when he says he’d be willing to take less money?
At the end of the day, what will his new contract look like???
