PSU great Micah Parsons prompted to walk out on Cowboys in high-stakes contract standoff after Jerry Jones remarks

The Dallas Cowboys’ training camp is heating up—and not for the right reasons. Young superstar Micah Parsons is seeking a well-deserved contract extension, as he’s widely regarded as one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. However, instead of working toward securing his future in Dallas, the Cowboys seem to be doing everything they can to avoid getting a deal done.

“We want to pay Micah too. He's got to want to be paid," Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones told reporters at training camp over the weekend.

That comment is especially odd considering Parsons has made it clear he wants to stay with the organization. Calling out a franchise cornerstone in this way is a bold move. Owner Jerry Jones added fuel to the fire by drawing a comparison to last year’s CeeDee Lamb situation.

“I heard it light, but not compared to how I heard them say, 'Pay Lamb [last year],'" Jones said Sunday, recalling fan reactions during Lamb’s negotiations. "That was a faint little sound compared to the way they were hollering last year, 'Pay Lamb.' ... Whoever's not in, you can count on a few hollering that. But it was a big loud chant last year on Lamb."

The whole situation feels strange, as if the Cowboys are doing everything except giving Parsons the deal he’s earned. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio even suggested Parsons might need to walk out of camp to send a message.

“The nuclear option hovers over the noise. Parsons could leave camp. And the Cowboys would have to decide after five days whether to shut him down for the full season. On one hand, he would be paid nothing. On the other hand, the Cowboys wouldn’t have him. Given that Jerry also described Micah on Sunday as ‘maybe the most talented player we’ve had,’ the Cowboys likely wouldn’t shelve him for the full season if he leaves and doesn’t return within five days. However it plays out, Micah won’t get full value for his abilities unless he takes a stand. Especially since a walkout would make those ‘pay Micah’ chants much, much louder,” Florio wrote.

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A walkout would be a risky move—but it would send a powerful message. It would show that Parsons is fed up with the games and that he knows his worth. The situation is becoming unnecessarily messy. A bold step like walking out could be exactly what it takes to force Jerry Jones’ hand and finally get a deal done.