The start of the Dallas Cowboys’ OTAs officially kicks off on Wednesday. And it won’t end until the first fortnight of June.
OTAs are basically the third phase of the off-season and comprise four weeks of training without pads (except knee pads, elbow pads and helmets) and without physical contact.
Teams can run 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills without contact. This is when the coaches start showing their playbook to the squad.
At this point in the year, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons haven’t had their contracts extended. Dallas picked up a fifth-year option on both players.
Parsons isn’t on holdout
The Cowboys’ pass rusher isn’t taking time off from work at the franchise’s facilities because he wants to get paid.
Parsons is in constant contact with the organisation, which in turn is aware of the player’s motivation to postpone his return to training.
Reporter Jane Slater got in touch with the defensive end to ask when he plans to meet up with the team.
Just texted with Cowboys DE Micah Parsons. Parsons was not at OTA’s today in Frisco but tells me he will be back for in house and national media responsibilities next week Tuesday, the 28th and mini camp.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 21, 2024
What’s behind the defender’s absence
Parsons spoke openly to Michael Gehlken about what he’s focused on before he actually starts working out with his teammates.
He’s at a point where he needs to concentrate on himself. The America’s Team edge has been doing individual training sessions with his local coach Tony Mack.
Dallas’ coaches are aware of everything and respects the player’s space.
“It doesn’t bother me because I know I’m putting in the work,” he said. “It more bothers me that people would think that I’m not doing everything I imagine possible to be the best player I can be to help win a championship. It’s more of that… The greatness, the spirit, it’s all in me, and I want it more than anybody.”
Parsons also made it clear that it’s not about money or anything like that. The 24-year-old is still feeling the pain of losing to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs and wants to turn things around.
“The (playoff) loss hurts. I’m not worried about no money, no nothing. That failure sits deep more than anything else.” admitted.
Micah Parsons’ goal for the 2024 season
The defender, one of the best in the NFL, has committed himself to things that help him grow spiritually, physically and mentally. Prayer and reading have become part of his activities, in addition to working out.
According to Micah, taking care of himself from the inside out could be the key to improving his performance in the game.
He believes that this is closely linked to the results of the other players in the squad: “It starts with me. That’s why I’ve been putting so much into that. You’ve got to learn how to lead. You have to learn almost everything in life…”
“I realized I need to increase my spirit, so when others are down, my spirit rises.” added. “Mike [McCarthy] and I talked multiple times this offseason about how can we create more self-discipline, how can we eliminate the penalties, how can we create a better environment to be better,”
Parsons seems to be going full force for 2024 – all-in on himself.
