Cowboys’ Prescott feels for Parsons, says DE ‘deserves’ payday

OXNARD, Calif. — If there may be anyone who understands what Micah Parsons goes by way of as he awaits a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys, it is Dak Prescott.

Prescott went by way of two protracted negotiations with the Cowboys, together with one final yr that noticed him turn out to be the highest-paid quarterback in NFL historical past with a four-year, $240 million deal agreed to hours earlier than the 2024 season opener.

“I do not know if there is a right method to deal with it, to be sincere with you,” Prescott mentioned. “I’ll say that I believe he deserves to receives a commission. I believe he ought to receives a commission, and, finally going off the historical past of what I’ve seen, he’ll receives a commission. Hopefully, it is prior to later.

Parsons has been on the sphere for the primary three days of coaching camp, however he has not practiced. On Thursday, Parsons was not in cleats for the primary time, though he mentioned Tuesday he’s coping with some again tightness.

The Cowboys and Parsons’ agent have but to kick-start negotiations after the All-Professional edge rusher met with proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones in March. On the time, Jones mentioned he and Parsons got here to an settlement on the size of the deal in addition to the assured and complete cash, however the talks by no means superior. And since then, high move rushers like T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby have signed extensions.

Parsons mentioned he was discouraged {that a} deal has but to be reached, even saying that if that is the final yr with the Cowboys, then that is it, however he has persistently mentioned he needs to stick with the group that drafted him within the first spherical in 2021.

Lately, it has taken the Cowboys longer to succeed in extensions or reworked offers with gamers than previously.

“I imply it is an every yr dialog whether or not it is myself, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, now Micah Parsons,” Prescott mentioned. “It is part of it in a way. Now’s it one thing that I want any of us had been going by way of? Completely not, however I believe Micah’s doing a hell of a job with it being right here. He is a fantastic teammate, displaying up clearly not simply on the sphere and being targeted, however whether or not or not it’s within the camaraderie, hanging out, dinner. He is not simply doing it to log off and say, ‘Hey, Jerry, have a look at me,’ however he needs to be on the market working towards. And actually, I am glad he is not. He cannot do this to himself. That is the enterprise of it. That is the enterprise of a holdout, so I do assume he is taken some nice steps with being right here.”

At a state of the Cowboys information convention Monday, Jones mentioned he’s not involved {that a} cope with Parsons has not been signed. He additionally raised eyebrows when he famous a contract doesn’t assure a participant would keep wholesome.

Parsons mentioned he did not discover the remark hurtful, however he did not perceive why a deal hasn’t been reached and even superior in talks.

Lamb missed most of coaching camp final yr earlier than signing a contract that made him the second-highest paid receiver within the NFL.

“For Micah, man, he is aware of I really like him, and being on this state of affairs, clearly enjoying this media recreation with Jerry isn’t the very best. It is not enjoyable. It is not really useful,” Lamb mentioned. “However as for Micah, he is aware of what he brings to this desk, actually, for this group, for himself. And he ought to get what he deserves and I am not indulging in any of the craziness they received going. However I do need Micah to receives a commission quickly.”