Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones faced a slew of questions from the media Thursday in a press conference just hours after finalizing one of the biggest trades in modern NFL history. An unfathomable situation just a few months ago became reality as Micah Parsons became a member of the Green Bay Packers.
In exchange, the Cowboys received two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. However, the return felt irrelevant given the caliber of player Dallas parted with. What did Jones have to say at the conclusion of a contract saga that dominated much of the offseason?
Jerry Jones Defends the Micah Parsons Trade
Since entering the league, Parsons had been a singularly dominant defensive force in Dallas. Tallying 12 or more sacks in each of his four seasons, he earned a Pro Bowl nod every year while being named to three All-Pro teams.
As such, he appeared well on his way to cementing himself as the next great Cowboy in a franchise filled with all-time greats. But he was also due for a new contract, and Jones, in typical fashion, delayed the process too long.
That delay eventually paved the way for harsh public comments from Jones about Parsons’ availability and popularity. Ultimately, it paved the way for the trade, shaking the NFL landscape to its core.
At the press conference, Jones defended the move. He began his remarks by saying, “We did think it was in the best interest of our organization … We gained a Pro Bowl player in an area that we had concerns in.”
He continued: “The facts are specifically we need to stop the run. We haven’t been able to stop the run at key times for several years.” He also argued that Parsons’ pass-rushing prowess left Dallas vulnerable against the run.
More than two months after first questioning Parsons’ loyalty and durability — despite the star defender missing only four games in four years — Jones changed his tone.
“I really like Micah,” the owner said. “I appreciate the four years we had him here. He’s a great player. No question, I could have signed him in April … This was by design. I did make Micah an offer, and it wasn’t acceptable, and I honored the fact that it wasn’t done how he wanted — through an agent.”
When pressed, Jones brushed those earlier comments aside, “He’s not that fragile. Let me tell you something, you can’t do that stuff and business like this and be fragile … I would think with his background, he’s very professional and willing to keep his eye on the ball and not get caught up in the emotions.”
Join us from the @thestarinfrisco for a press conference to address today’s trade. #DallasCowboys | @MillerLite
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Jones then went further, invoking the Herschel Walker trade. “Micah Parsons did an outstanding job for us for four years, and a little bit of the way Herschel Walker may have had his greatest contribution to the Cowboys — what he brought to us when he left could be a tremendous thing for our fans and the success of this team.”
The comparison fell flat. When the Cowboys dealt Walker in 1989, they received four players, three first-round picks, three second-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick — a haul that dwarfs what Dallas got for Parsons.
Still, Jones insisted the move had been planned all summer, not a last-minute decision. Jones also claimed the decision to trade Parsons was unanimous across the organization.
Jones took just one question in the first 15 minutes and delivered a lengthy soliloquy trying to defend one of the most perplexing trades in NFL history. He also repeatedly referred to Parsons as “Michael.”
