Michah Parsons hasn’t shown up for the Dallas Cowboys OTAs, but that doesn’t mean the star pass rusher doesn’t think he should have the final say in how the defense operates this fall. Parsons defended his absence from the Cowboys’ spring workouts during his media availability on Tuesday.
The Dallas Cowboys has had a couple of big misses at OTAs
Parsons and CeeDee Lamb missed voluntary OTAs this spring. It wasn’t a surprise they missed, as both players are seeking an extension before the regular season. However, Parsons didn’t miss voluntary OTAs because of his contract situation.
Micah Parsons wanted to rest
Per Michael Gehlken with the Dallas Morning News, Parsons said he used the extra time off the field to let his body heal from the prior season. Parsons pointed out that Aaron Donald missed OTAs before winning Defensive Player of the Year with the Los Angeles Rams. He said he needed the rest because of his role as a small pass rusher:
I’m just looking at it as time for my body to heal. I’m an undersized rusher who gets banged up every year. So, I’m just letting my body heal. I’m just trying to grow, strengthen and really just get better for the year…
“It really takes me months to get back. It takes me months to even hit the field. I don’t hit the field until May. I really take time to build my ligaments back up, get a lot of PT, …get my muscles back. …I don’t want to hit the field until May-June anyway.”
The Cowboys have one reasonable concern about Parsons missing OTAs. New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is installing his defense this spring. Parsons said Zimmer hadn’t spoken more than “20 words to each other” since the Cowboys announced Zimmer would replace Dan Quinn, who left to be the head coach of the Washington Commanders.
Parsons has a message for DC Mike Zimmer
Parsons, who showed up to practice this week for the first time all offseason, said he needs to have a “true sitdown” with Zimmerman so they can compromise on how to run the defense this season:
“All I keep hearing from the coaches is, ‘Zimm likes it this way.’ I was like, ‘Well, I like it this way.’ So, I can’t wait to have my true sitdown with him,” Parsons said. “I think it will be pretty cool because obviously old-school mindset, old-school mentality. I think he’s had a lot of great players, but he ain’t ever have a Micah before. It will be fun, and I think it’s going to be unique.
“There’s a lot of similarities on things to how he uses me to how Dan (Quinn) used me in the system, but he has more twists and turns of how he’s going to set things up. Also, there are some things that I’ve got to get used to, too. It’s going to be a compromisable relationship. There’s going to be things he’s like, ‘I’m not going to give on. I don’t give on.’ That’s part of the regime, you know?”
Tyler Dunne with Go Long reported the Cowboys players aren’t taking the staff seriously this offseason because they know Mike McCarthy is a lame-duck head coach. It shouldn’t be too surprising the Cowboys’ best defender doesn’t have respect for his new defensive coordinator.
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2 Comments
I’d trade him right away. His ego is off the charts.
I can tell you right now that Zimmer and Parsons are not going to get along this whole season. More, more, more drama!!!! Don’t make no sense!!!