The stalemate between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons continues for another day. Only now, former players are starting to call on Jones to sign Parsons as soon as possible.
Former NFL Players Call For Cowboys To Extend Micah Parsons
.@89JonesNTAF has a message for the Cowboys amidst Micah Parsons contract talks 👀
"You got 1 of the best players in the world. Do not be stupid, pay him." pic.twitter.com/00OB4Y2dTF
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) April 3, 2025
“Do not be stupid, do not make a mistake, pay Micah Parsons, who gets you closer to the Super Bowl,” former wide receiver James Jones said on FS1’s “The Facility.”
“He is your quarterback on the defense. He wrecks games, he helps everybody on the defense (because) he demands a lot of attention,” Jones continued. “Do not overthink this, make the game easy … make Micah Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in the National Football League yesterday.”
Joining Jones in the chorus calling for the Cowboys to get a deal done with Parsons is his broadcast mate and former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel.
“If you trade him and you get $200 million more, who are you gonna spend it on? Who’s worth that?” Daniel said. “Other than quarterback, edge rusher is the most premium position, and it’s not even close,” Daniel continued.
“Paying Micah Parsons will get the Cowboys closer to a Super Bowl…You can’t make a living in the NFL getting rid of good players.”
— @ChaseDaniel pic.twitter.com/6YpM4ZiQHJ
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) April 3, 2025
Is this business as usual for Jones? In a word, yes.
Jones has a track record of handing out large contracts to players he wants. In 2005, he signed four players to $32 million in bonuses, including quarterback Drew Brees. Ten years prior, in 1995, he made Deion Sanders the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
Then there was Tony Romo, who got $108 million over six years, Zack Martin ($84 million over six years), and most recently, CeeDee Lamb, who earned $136 million over four seasons.
The rub here seems to be that Jones wants to personally negotiate with Parsons 1-on-1, but Parsons wants Jones to deal with his agent. As Jones told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, “I’m the one who has to write the check, and Micah is the one who has to agree to it.”
Conversely, Parsons has stood his ground and insists that Jones negotiate through his agent, which has created a standoff that doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.
Last year, the Cowboys finished 7-10 after suffering a rash of injuries, which included Parsons missing four games. With new head coach Brian Schottenheimer on board, the Cowboys are hoping to compete in the NFC East, which, for now, is dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles.
To not only contend with Philly, much less vie for a chance at their first Super Bowl appearance in more than 30 years, the Cowboys need all of their best players. Whether or not Jones’ negotiating tactics with Parsons will pay off remains to be seen.