Parsons is present at the Cowboys’ voluntary workouts as he enters the last year of his contract and looks to sign a lucrative extension. The 25-year-old says he’s “still got to learn the playbook”, but he “might not be on the field part of it.” Negotiations between the Cowboys and Parsons are still at an impasse after Jerry Jones did not go through Parsons’ agent for contract talk earlier in the month. The two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler indicates he will walk through new head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s playbook, but may not be participating in on-field work. This could become a hold-in situation for the Cowboys.

It’s a sign of good faith by Parsons, who is entering the final year of his deal but hopes to sign a lucrative extension with the Cowboys before the start of the season. The star pass rusher totaled 43 tackles and 12 sacks last season while being limited to just 13 games due to injury. Arguably the best pass rusher in the league, Parsons will likely land a record-setting deal whenever he does sign an extension.

The Cowboys begin voluntary workouts on Monday. Parsons frequently skips “portions” of these events, which has been a point of contention with the team at times. Late in the 2024 season, he reportedly stated that he planned to attend them this year, perhaps as a sign of good faith. Parsons is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2025 season and expects to sign a record-setting contract before the season begins. His attendance, or lack thereof, could give us an indication as to how the negotiations are proceeding.

In true Jerry Jones fashion, he managed to start a bit of a firestorm by admitting that not only had he not talked to Parsons’ agent, he didn’t even know his name. ”I’m the one who has to write the check and Micah is the one who has to agree to it,” Jones told David Moore. “That’s the straightest way to get there.” Parsons then used X: The Everything App to say that he would not be doing any deal without agent David Mulugheta and that there “will be no backdoors in this contract negotiation.” So, you know, another day as usual for the Cowboys. They could have sewn up this Parsons deal months (or even a year ago), but that would have been too competent. Too boring.