Micah Parsons, the 26-year-old defensive sensation who’s racked up over 52 sacks and earned two first-team All-Pro nods in just four seasons, showed up to Dallas Cowboys training camp with one thing missing: a new contract. The standout pass rusher is still waiting for an extension that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid edge defender. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seems reluctant to pull the trigger on this deal, going so far as to claim he doesn’t know Parsons’ agent and downplaying the player’s relatively clean injury history. With Parsons’ rookie deal set to expire after this season, the clock is ticking.
The Same Old Jerry Jones Playbook
Anyone who’s followed the Cowboys knows this dance well. Jones has performed these contract theatrics before:
- September 1993: Emmitt Smith held out for two games, demanding pay comparable to Thurman Thomas. After the Cowboys stumbled to an 0-2 start without their star runner, Jones realized he’d lost his bargaining position and gave Smith even more than Thomas was making in Buffalo.
- July 2019: When Ezekiel Elliott held out, Jones famously declared, “You don’t have to have a rushing champion to win the Super Bowl.” That tough talk didn’t last long – Elliott got the richest running back contract in league history, which later became a salary cap nightmare.
- August 2023: Jones acted unbothered when All-Pro guard Zack Martin sat out, claiming he needed to save cap space for Parsons. Naturally, Martin got his money anyway.
- August 2024: Jones insisted there was no rush to extend CeeDee Lamb, which prompted the wide receiver to tweet a sarcastic “lol.” Lamb ended up with the second-richest receiver contract in the NFL.
Not every negotiation follows this pattern – Jones handled Dak Prescott‘s mega-extension with less public drama. But these high-stakes standoffs with franchise cornerstones rarely cause lasting harm to relationships.
Understanding Jones’ Methods
Jones built his fortune through savvy business deals in oil and real estate before purchasing the Cowboys for $140 million in 1989. He clearly knows how to negotiate. Yet when it comes to his star players, the results speak for themselves. Jon Machota, a veteran Cowboys beat reporter, suggests Jones actually enjoys these high-profile contract battles and the media attention they bring.
The track record is telling: Prescott’s $60 million annual salary remains unmatched. Elliott, Lamb, Martin, and Dez Bryant all eventually got their desired deals. Parsons will likely join that list.
At 82, Jones shows no signs of changing his approach. The drama, the headlines, the spotlight – he seems to thrive on all of it.
Sports Roundup
MLB History Made by Nick Kurtz
Oakland Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz joined one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs by smashing four home runs in a single game, becoming just the 20th player ever to accomplish this feat. His performance was absolutely bonkers – 6-for-6 at the plate, 8 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and 19 total bases. Kurtz came tantalizingly close to becoming the first player ever to hit five homers in one game, all in just his 66th major league appearance.
Messi Faces MLS Discipline
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba each received one-game suspensions for missing the MLS All-Star Game. Commissioner Don Garber called the decision “very difficult” but said it aligns with established league policies. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas slammed the punishment as “draconian,” revealing that Messi was “extremely upset” about the ruling.
Quick Hits
- The Cincinnati Bengals finally wrapped up their rookie contracts, signing first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a fully guaranteed four-year deal.
- More than 100 NFL players faced fines for reselling Super Bowl 59 tickets above face value.
- Michigan and Western Michigan will make college football history by opening the 2026 season in Germany.
- The New York Yankees kicked off trade deadline activity by acquiring Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, a move that’s drawn mixed reviews.
- Managers Terry Francona (Reds) and Kevin Cash (Rays) kept their prank war alive, with Francona playing a loop of Cash striking out on the jumbotron.
Tonight’s Games
- WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks at New York Liberty, 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV. The Liberty look dangerous with Jonquel Jones back in the lineup alongside stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
- MLB: Dodgers at Red Sox, 7:15 p.m. ET on Fox. A rare southpaw showdown between 37-year-old Clayton Kershaw and 26-year-old Garrett Crochet.
Editor’s Recommendations
- MLB writers picked one new face from each team ahead of the trade deadline.
- TIME’s podcast rankings include “The Tennis Podcast,” now part of The Athletic family.
- Brendan Kuty dives deep into how Aaron Judge makes his teammates better.
- A fascinating New York Magazine piece tracks two high school friends who got caught up in a Congo coup attempt.
- Parent reviews of spill-proof toddler cups focus on durability and practicality.
- Ian O’Connor examines the pressure on Aaron Rodgers with the Steelers versus his Jets tenure.
- Ben Pickman breaks down the key issues in ongoing WNBA collective bargaining negotiations.
- A look back at Tame Impala’s “Currents” on its 10th anniversary, celebrating its artistic growth.
Trending Stories
- Tour de France coverage of route changes due to a cattle cull situation.
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(Photo credit: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
