FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys have made no progress on a Micah Parsons contract extension since the start of the offseason. Now through minicamp the timetable for getting this done remains a complete unknown with training camp on the horizon.
Unlike other stars across the league, Parsons keeps his presence around the locker room, deciding not to hold out from team activities including mandatory minicamp last week.
But the delays and drama of it all have tested his patience. He had no reservations in revealing that a long wait on this deal would cost the Cowboys amid the Pittsburgh Steelers' similar negotiations with T.J. Watt.
While Cowboys fans wonder why the team has not jumped to get the deal done, Cleveland Browns' defensive star Myles Garrett seems to be asking the same questions.
Speaking to Abby Jones of DLLS Sports this past weekend, Garrett endorsed Parsons, urging that Dallas' defensive leader is worth all that he is asking for.
“I think he deserves whatever he’s earned. Once I got the chance to train with him. I’ve seen his work ethic. I’ve seen how he attacks. The weights. Running.
"He’s 100% committed to his craft and getting better every day. He has that level of dedication to the game. He should get every penny he’s owed.”
Garrett got his own major pay day this offseason, signing a four-year $160 million extension with the Browns. At the time, it was the largest extension for a non quarterback and remains the most expensive defensive contract in the game.
Ironically, that deal has arguably become a root cause of the issues in extension talks for Parsons who wants a five-year deal totaling $200 million. Such a contract would put him on par with Garrett, having an average salary of $40 million per year.
Dollars and cents aside, Garrett's seeing the same things that Cowboys fans have for years. Parsons has been nothing short of a dependable and competitive ambassador for the team with almost unparalleled production in his first four years.
These are all things the Cowboys recognize as well, even if these conversations continue to drag into the dog days of summer. Eventually a deal will more than likely come to fruition.
But when one of the best players in the league is asking why Parsons has not signed his next contract yet, it shows that this entire saga has produced completely unnecessary delay in a no-brainer decision.
