
T.J. Watt's huge Steelers extension weighing on Micah Parsons at Cowboys training camp
On Day 1 of Cowboys training camp, reporters asked Parsons if he was discouraged by the stall in extension talks with Dallas — leaving the superstar defender to share his honest feelings on the current state of the edge rusher market, including Watt's new extension.
'Honestly, yeah,' Parsons said. 'When you go around the league and you see these other teams taking care of their best guys — I see T.J. got taken care of. Maxx [Crosby] got taken care of. Myles [Garrett] got taken care of, and he's got two years left on his deal. You see a lot of people in our league getting taken care of and you wish you had that same type of energy."
It was rumored that Parsons could eventually usurp Watt as the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league — but the Steelers set the bar high for the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones to match.
On Monday, Jones hinted at potential injury concerns as a holdup to giving Parsons his payday — sparking intense debate and criticism on social media.
This type of distraction in Dallas is the last thing any team wants to deal with — and the Steelers' front office should be commended for avoiding it by getting Watt's deal done ahead of training camp.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jerry Jones urges Cowboys fans not to panic after Micah Parsons' trade request: 'Don't lose any sleep over this'
Jerry Jones talked for a while on Saturday, but had one overall message for Dallas Cowboys fans in the wake of Micah Parsons' trade request: Don't panic. The Cowboys owner told reporters he isn't considering granting Parsons' request and insisted that this was still part of the negotiations for the All-Pro pass-rusher's next contract in Dallas. From The Athletic's Jon Machota: 'I wouldn't be standing here with you if I didn't think we potentially had a great future with Micah (Parsons). We're in good shape. This is negotiation. But make no mistake about it, life has to go on if something happens to me or anybody else. Life does go on.' Jones also reportedly said Parsons' contract offer from March is off the table — "Micah took it off" — and that "relationship is what it is ... I like Micah" when asked if the relationship was salvageable. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] And as for his message to a currently upset Cowboys fanbase, via Nick Harris of the Star-Telegram: 'I would say to our fans, don't lose any sleep over this.' Meanwhile, some of those Cowboys fans were letting Jones know what they thought about the situation: As Jones often likes to note, he's been in this kind of situation before and usually comes out of with a newly extended player, though sometimes at a price a little higher than expected. In a lengthy statement announcing his trade request, Parsons claimed Jones and the Cowboys have been mostly radio silent in response to multiple attempts by his camp to engage them on contract negotiations. Jones and Parsons met in March to discuss their future, but no deal resulted and the two sides are now reported to be wide apart on terms of a possible deal. Parsons has not held out from Cowboys workouts or training camps, though he has missed drills recently due to a back injury. Jones said "I wish the back would get better" in response to the injury, with tongue possibly in cheek. How expensive will Micah Parsons get for the Cowboys? Parsons' first contract after his rookie deal has loomed for years, with the price only going higher as his peers land progressively larger extension. Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby got a three-year, $106.5 million deal in March, with a $35.5 million average annual value that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns broke that record days later with a four-year, $160 million deal ($40 million per year). And then Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt took the record for himself with a three-year, $123 million extension ($41 million per year). At 26 years old, Parsons is younger than all three of those players and has been one of the best defensive players in the NFL since his first game with the Cowboys. Odds are high he's looking to set his own record, but even if he somehow doesn't, it's not going to be cheap for Jones. Parsons is playing this season on the $24 million fifth-year option of his rookie contract and is technically a pending unrestricted free agent, though it can be assumed the Cowboys will hit him with the franchise tag as many times as needed to keep him in Dallas.


Fox News
23 minutes ago
- Fox News
Cowboys' Jerry Jones has message for fans following Micah Parsons stunning trade request
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke for the first time since superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons requested a trade on Saturday. Jones, 82, had a message for fans in wake of Parsons' trade request. "I would say to our fans, don't lose any sleep over this," Jones said, via the Star-Telegram. Jones said he thinks the "world of" Parsons and said his trade request is just part of negotiations. Parsons announced his trade request on social media on Friday, and in his post, Parsons said he did everything to show he wanted to stay with the Cowboys. "Yes I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet. I wanted to play in front of the best fans in sports and make this Americas [sic] team once again. The team my pops and I grew up cheering for way up in Harrisburg, PA. Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here," Parsons wrote in his post. "I no longer want to held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me. I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done." Parsons said he wanted to get a contract extension after his third season, when he was first eligible for such a deal, but the team had no interest. Parsons said he's "OK with that" and turned his attention to the 2024 season. However, once again, Parsons said there has been "radio silence" from the Cowboys in regard to any potential contract extension after last season. "Yet still not a call email or text to my agent about starting a negotiation. Up to today, the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about starting a negotiation. Not one demand has been made by my agent about money years or anything else," Parsons wrote. "I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally," Parsons concluded his post. Parsons has been one of the premier pass-rushers since being selected with 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Parsons has made the Pro Bowl in all four seasons of his career. In 63 career games, Parsons has 52.5 sacks with 172 solo tackles and nine forced fumbles. Last season, Parsons had 12 sacks in 13 games. While Jones might tell fans not to lose sleep over Parsons' trade request, it would be hard to blame them if they did.


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Bill Belichick, UNC not in rush to name starting QB
Will Max Johnson, Gio Lopez or Bryce Baker be named UNC's Week 1 starter? Saturday was a massive day for the UNC football program, which kicked off Training Camp and inched closer to the start of live football action. One of North Carolina's greatest storylines entering Training Camp – and one that'll continue until the season opener on September 1 against TCU – is who will be starting quarterback. The Tar Heels return initial 2024 starter Max Johnson, who is fully recovered from a broken leg suffered in last year's opener at Minnesota. UNC also nabbed South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez in the transfer portal, while landing a commitment from in-state, 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker. During media availability to open Training Camp, North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick spoke on his new team's quarterback battle – and when he hopes to have a decision by. "We don't have a specific date," Belichick said. "I think the time will be when we're sure. What you don't want to do is pick player A – and then end up going to player B. Let them compete and then once you're sure it's player B, make it player B or player A, whoever goes. I think once we're confident that we know who has earned that spot, cause that's what it'll be, it's not us picking them, it'll be that player earning it. After the Tar Heels hit the Bill Koman Practice Field, Johnson spoke to the media for several minutes. Johnson echoed Belichick's sentiments, while also describing what he needs to do in order to be named QB1. "The best man's going to play and whoever that is, I know Coach Belichick's going to make the best decision," Johnson said. "I'm just blessed to be here, be able to compete. It just feels good to be able to do it again.' 'I think just trying to be as consistent as I can be," Johnson continued. "Don't get too high, don't get too low. Don't make the bad plays worse. Focus on what they're (coaches) telling us. Take the checkdowns when it's there, take the shot when it's there and being able to manipulate the defense with your eyes. Don't change because of something good happening, something bad happening." Exactly 30 days from Saturday, Johnson will know whether he earns UNC's starting quarterback gig or not. He certainly has the collegiate experience factor, but Lopez and Baker have the 2024 live action Johnson doesn't. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.