Dallas Cowboys standout linebacker Micah Parsons has officially requested a trade, fueling mounting rumblings of his cloudy future in the franchise. The rumors started Thursday when Parsons tweeted a cryptic "one last time" GIF after sharing a training camp photo with teammate Trevon Diggs an indicator this could be their last season together in Dallas.
Parsons validated the rumors on Friday, putting out a statement indicating that he has asked for a trade. The action represents a drastic change of tone from a player who, only a few weeks prior, said that he wanted to remain with the Cowboys.
At the center of it all is a hung-up contract negotiation that's lingered all offseason long. Parsons has been outspoken about wanting a new contract and has attended training camp but he's not going through drills. It's a time-honored "hold-in," in which the player attends but doesn't fully engage until the contract is signed.
Sources indicate a massive miscommunication with team owner Jerry Jones might have prompted the standoff. Jones thought he had an oral agreement with Parsons earlier this year. However, when Parsons shifted the negotiations to his agent, the Cowboys allegedly didn't act on it, leading to the current impasse.
In spite of tension, Parsons has repeatedly said that he wishes to remain in Dallas. "I want to be here. Ultimately, they sign the checks. Let's see if they want me to be here," he stated in July.
The linebacker’s resume backs up his ask for a market-setting deal. In just four seasons, Parsons has earned four Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. He’s also landed in the top three for Defensive Player of the Year three times without yet taking home the trophy.
Meanwhile, the monetary threshold for top defensive players continues to grow. This offseason, superstars such as Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and T.J. Watt inked gargantuan extensions, with Watt's contract so far leading the charge at $123 million over a three-year period. It's not surprising to speculate Parsons will seek to exceed that figure.
The next few weeks will tell if Dallas is going to open its checkbook or if Parsons has really played his final down as a Cowboy.
