Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons didn’t hold back when discussing his team’s struggles after a brutal 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Parsons shared some choice words regarding the Cowboys’ coaching staff, sparking strong reactions from former NFL figures.
When asked about head coach Mike McCarthy’s future – particularly since McCarthy is in the final year of his contract – Parsons tactfully deferred, saying McCarthy’s future was “above my pay grade.”
“All coaching aside, Mike can leave and go wherever he wants. Guys I kind of feel bad for is guys like Zack Martin and guys who might be on their last year, on their way out, because that’s who I wanted to hold the trophy for.”
“You want to win games and do great things with those type of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did. So those are the kind of guys that I have so much sympathy and hurt for.”
These remarks ignited fierce backlash from many notable figures in the football world.
Former head coach turned analyst, Rex Ryan, took direct aim at Parsons, calling his statements “total BS.” Ryan defended McCarthy and coaches in general, emphasizing the grueling hours they put in to lead teams.
“That’s total BS,” Ryan said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Coaches are there, some days, 20 hours a day for two or three days at least during the week. The hours they put in, it’s unmatched.
“Mike McCarthy, he doesn’t deserve this damn comment. He doesn’t, no coach does. There are some horrible coaches out there but none of them deserve this, the kind of work they put in as coaches, like, I’m just telling you.
“You’re giving up family time, you’re giving up all kinds of stuff in your life, and you’re going to get some ass…I don’t care how talented he is. That is absolutely BS.”
Former offensive lineman Damien Woody also slammed Parsons, labeling him one of the “podcast boys” – a reference to Parsons’ show, The Edge with Micah Parsons.
Woody criticized Parsons for his timing and tone, especially given Parsons’ recent absence due to injury.
“Who the hell Micah Parsons think he is talking like that after a game?” Woody said. “Bro, you been missing all these games with the injury, and last time I checked, the head coach is a Super Bowl-winning coach.
“And I know the season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected it to go and all that. But for you to sit there in the locker room right after your team gets pummeled and to just undress your coaching in that manner, see that’s what’s going on with all these podcast boys out here in the locker room. They want to spout and say all this type of stuff.”
Ryan doubled down, connecting Parsons’ comments with his time off the field due to injuries.
“If you would work half as freaking hard as the damn coach does, maybe you’d be able to play every damn game,” Ryan said. “Maybe your team wouldn’t just be a bunch of punks and lay it down every damn week like you’re doing.
“How about being a damn football team? You’re going to sell your damn coach out? It’s a crock of you know what.”
Woody summed up the debate with a simple message.
“We can sit here and laugh and all that stuff and be here in shock, but that’s disrespectful what Micah Parsons did to Mike McCarthy in that situation, because I know, again, it’s not the results Mike McCarthy wants, but I know that man is busting his ass every single day to try to go out there and get a win,” Woody said.
“And here one of your star players come out there and say that … Come on, man, I can’t ride with that.”
McCarthy addressed the situation and admitted that he spoke with Parsons about the matter.
“When it does create questions for others in the locker room, something that I’ve always done: Conversation has to happen,” McCarthy said. “So Micah and I had a conversation this morning about it. Handled those things as men should.”
Speaking on his podcast, Parsons attempted to backtrack his criticism of McCarthy.
“I never once threw, or even intended to throw, Mike McCarthy under the bus,” he said. “Like I said, he’s one of the winningest coaches – he’s a Super Bowl champion. I never once brought up his past.
“So not once did I ever intend or want to reflect on Mike McCarthy’s career because I always knew it was a good one,” he continued. “I’ve always had a great relationship with Mike McCarthy, and I never even put that in question.
“When you see those types of things, you see guys pushing through injuries, pushing through so much difficulty it is to play in this league? Yes, 100 percent, every time I’m gonna always choose the brother that we’re gonna bleed with.
“Not once did I want this quote to be a negative moment. I only wanted it to be a positive light and shine light on guys like Zack Martin, who may or may not be a Cowboy next year. [He’s] gonna be a Ring of Honor guy, a Hall of Fame guy, and just know that he added so much value to the Cowboys that will be missed.”
It’s no secret that this season has been an absolute disaster for the Cowboys. There’s a strong chance that McCarthy will soon be a goner.
Having said that, Parsons’ comments have ticked off many in the football world.
His message about Zack Martin is a respectable one, but he could have made that point without dragging McCarthy through the mud.
What are your thoughts on the messy situation in Dallas?
In the bigger picture, are we really sure it’s a good thing that so many players have in-season podcasts???
