NFL fans have been contemplating all of the possibilities since the trade request from Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons. Both sides of this equation have been trading blows in the public contract negotiation.
Superstars play this game around contract time, and Dallas has the management of a hoarder. Where will he end up, and what is the senile Jerry Jones going to say, or do, next?
The NFL reports that Parsons broke the news to the world via a lengthy social media post.
“I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” he wrote. “My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.”
Micah Parsons
While Parsons has endured plenty of nonsense playing for the franchise, there’s still a quiet way to go about this. The wording also comes across as petty, specifically mentioning his request did not go to Jerry. The notes app on social media is also a tacky antic.
“Again, radio silence as far as my extension. In March I met with [owner] Mr. [Jerry] Jones to talk about leadership. Somehow the conversation turned into him talking contract with me. Yes, I engaged in a back and forth in regards to what I wanted from my contract, but at no point did I believe this was supposed to be a formal negotiation and I informed Mr. Jones afterward my agent would reach out thinking this would get things done,” continued Parsons.
The two parties have both reported discussions, but the detriment to Dallas started to get cold feet when the linebacker wanted to loop in an agent. In what world would a world-class athlete not have the contract reviewed? Neither side is looking particularly professional in the ordeal, but Jones is taking it on the chin, and doesn’t seem to mind.
This is an elite talent that improves any team. That being said, who has the need and money to invest heavily? The NFL reports, among others, the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears with the greatest odds. One would assume Parsons wants to go on playoff runs, which only one of those teams can provide over the length of his career. The Bills’ defense would go from good to great, taking more pressure off of quarterback Josh Allen and friends.
A trend has been forming where players and management become confrontational during contract negotiations. The players don’t want to play the year they already agreed to, and the franchises are too cheap to buy the big picture. Teams like the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cowboys, for example, will never be elite using their current models. Not to paint all teams with the same brush, the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers are better examples of recent contract negotiation skills.
Another part of the trend consists of players threatening to leave, only to sign for the money and never be about the loyalty they so claim to the fans. Any player who claims to want to stay, threatens to leave, and comes back for more money will never lead a team deep into the playoffs consistently. These frauds include Myles Garrett and Tee Higgins most recently, with a few other potentials out there, including Trey Hendrickson, Terry McLaurin, and, of course, Parsons.
A common thread is the irrelevant teams from which these types of players come. Players are going against contracts they agreed to, and teams are avoiding paying as much as possible. The clash of powerful men often results in the crumbling somewhere in the middle, almost always near the predicted amounts.
In an attempt to show himself in a positive light, the NFL reported further words from the owner. Known for waiting too long to sign stars, only to pay them more than was required a year earlier, he addressed a related question.
“It seems like that we forget that it’s been less than a year and I paid the highest that’s been paid in the NFL to Dak and I paid a big price for Lamb. Anybody that says I’m not interested in financially rewarding my players hasn’t been looking at the tea leaves,” said Jones.
It’s as if he doesn’t realize he could sign them for less money, and at the same time making the players feel respected and rewarded. The end result in this situation tends to be the high-end talent getting overpaid to stay with the organization.
It doesn’t seem that all elite NFL talent realizes there’s a quiet way to go about things, without toying with fans’ emotions. On the other hand, most franchises will run them into the ground without a second thought. The rare combination of a respectable franchise and hard-working, loyal talent always warms the heart. Here’s to the Los Angeles Chargers and tackle Rashawn Slater, and to the Minnesota Vikings and safety Josh Metellus.
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