Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones continues to draw a line in the sand on contract negotiations with All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons.
After the Cowboys' owner said that he offered Parsons a record-setting deal for a defensive player, Jones made it clear who he has comfort negotiating with in an interview with Stephen A. Smith.
"Frankly, it wouldn’t have made any difference what the negotiation was. Guess who has to be comfortable for this to work?" After Smith said Parsons, Jones said that he himself also has to be included.
He then stated, "There’s no room for a third. This will be a good one," in reference to Parsons' agent.
This comes after Jones told former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin that Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, has an agenda in their conversations. Jones said that when they went to send the contract details to Parsons' agent, he "told us to stick it up our expletive."
The situation between the Cowboys and Parsons has "deteriorated to the point” that the star pass rusher made a trade request during training camp.
Parsons, drafted 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, is entering the fifth-year option of his rookie contract that will pay him $24 million. The 26-year-old is far from his prime and yet boasts a resume that includes Defensive Rookie of the Year, two All-Pro first team nods and a Pro-Bowl appearance in each of his four seasons.
While Jones has made it clear that he wants to keep Parsons and sign him to a new deal, he doesn't think they need to get the agent involved.
"Where is the least important part of this whole equation we're talking about. What is the least incremental part of the whole equation? The attorney or the agent. He works for Micah. He's not the principal here, in any way. In any way. They're in here to make their percentage."
Parsons finished fifth in the league in sacks last season with 12, a half-sack more than Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. Watt signed a three-year $123 million extension in July, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
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