During a recent public training camp session in Oxnard, Dallas Cowboys fans made their voices heard by chanting “Pay Micah,” pushing the team to lock in star linebacker Micah Parsons with a long-term deal. Executive Vice President Stephen Jones responded to the growing pressure with a statement that drew attention: “We want to pay Micah too. He has to want to be paid.”
Though short, the comment stirred discussions about where the holdup lies in contract negotiations with Parsons—one of the NFL’s top defensive players. The quote was initially reported by Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is expected to seek a new contract worth over $40 million annually—comparable to top-tier edge rushers like T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett. Despite his stellar performance—three All-Pro honors, four Pro Bowl appearances, and 50 career sacks—the Cowboys have not yet proposed a contract that reflects those market values.
While Parsons has been participating in training camp, he has dealt with back tightness and was recently seen observing from the sidelines. He clarified that he is not “holding in” but monitoring his health.
The situation was further complicated by recent remarks from team owner Jerry Jones, who seemed to downplay Parsons’ reliability. Jerry claimed that Parsons missed six games last season, although records show he missed only four.
Adding to the tension, the Cowboys recently signed tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension—the largest ever given to a tight end in team history. Ferguson, who had 59 receptions for 494 yards last season, has been a solid performer, but he doesn’t carry the same defensive impact as Parsons.
Parsons has not hidden his disappointment about the delay in securing a new deal. Earlier in camp, he pointed out that other top players—like Watt, Garrett, and Maxx Crosby—have already been rewarded by their teams and implied he hoped for similar recognition.
As the Cowboys transition into full-contact practices, all eyes will remain on Parsons—not just his physical condition, but also any developments in his contract talks. If unresolved, the issue threatens to distract from Dallas’s preparation for the upcoming 2025 NFL season.