Trouble is brewing in Texas.
After The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported early Friday morning that the relationship between the Dallas Cowboys and star pass rusher Micah Parsons has ‘deteriorated to the point” that a trade request is being considered, Parsons made that request official later in the day.
"I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys," Parsons wrote at the end of a long, detailed post about his contract situation. "My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally."
Parsons had previously been at Cowboys training camp despite claiming there was “no new movement” on contract extension talks with general manager Jerry Jones.
The Penn State product confirmed that again on Friday, writing that the "team decided to go silent" this off-season.
"I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet," Parsons wrote. "... Unfortunately I no longer want to be here."
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.
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.
3:26