Micah Parsons openly talked about his contract situation last week like few players do in his position. The Dallas Cowboys standout pass rusher is in the fourth year of his rookie contract. He’s expected to receive a massive pay raise this offseason. His production is worthy of becoming the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. But he said that’s not necessary.
Parsons sounded like he would genuinely try to work with the Cowboys so they would still have salary-cap space to keep some of their own free agents. But will Dallas maximize that potential opportunity?
The Cowboys haven’t been big spenders in free agency in more than a decade. So, when talk turns to Dallas being active in March, it’s difficult to have any other take than: I’ll believe it when I see it. For a Parsons contract extension to impact free agency, it would need to get done before free agency starts. That never came close to happening with their previous major contract negotiations with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Lamb’s was done in late August. Prescott’s hours before the season opener in Cleveland.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones was asked about Parsons’ contract comments on Friday. Obviously he was a fan.
“If you can get ahead of (these big contracts), you want to get ahead of them,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “Hats off to Micah. I’ve seen some of the comments that he’s made. (He’s) had conversations with Jerry (Jones) and I. That’s what we want. We want guys who want to be here.”
CeeDee Lamb wore Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” cleats vs. the Giants on Thanksgiving. There were no issues. But when he wore these green Nike air zoom pro vapor cleats on Sunday, NFL officials made him take them off at halftime.
Lamb: “I got fined a lot this year. Bro, I’m like a target.… https://t.co/zmq81FaxPz pic.twitter.com/BbsMnLgU2T
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 20, 2024
True test for Dowdle
Sunday night will be a great test for Rico Dowdle and the Cowboys’ rush offense. Dowdle has been impressive in recent weeks, rushing for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games, all while the offensive line continues to deal with injuries. However, the run of 100-yard performances hasn’t exactly come against the best competition.
Dowdle broke through the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career when he rushed for 112 against the New York Giants on Thanksgiving. Coming into that week, the Giants had the No. 30 rush defense in the NFL. The following week, Dowdle rushed for 131 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals, who were No. 22 vs. the run. Last week, Dowdle ran for 149 yards over the Carolina Panthers, who were ranked dead last (by a wide margin) against the run.
This week, the Cowboys play a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that is ranked 11th in run defense, allowing 109.2 yards per game. Furthermore, they allow just 86.1 rushing yards per game on the road, which is the fourth-best road mark in the league. The Cowboys average 87.3 yards rushing per game at home, which is fourth-worst in the NFL.
How much of the recent ground success was because of the faulty competition, and how much was because of a real improvement on the part of the Cowboys? Sunday night should provide clarity.
Cowboys DE Micah Parsons is listed as questionable for Sunday night, but he’s expected to play.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on @1053thefan: “I’d be surprised if Micah doesn’t come around. You never know on these flu bugs, but he should be fine.” pic.twitter.com/mufZ3ZyJcb
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) December 20, 2024
Predictions
Jon Machota, Cowboys beat writer: I still don’t trust the Cowboys at home. It was impressive to see how Dallas continued to fight last week in Charlotte. After the way the Cowboys lost to the Bengals, an ugly performance against the Panthers wouldn’t have been a surprise. Despite how disappointing the season has been, you can’t say the Cowboys have cashed it in down the stretch. Tampa Bay has some impressive wins on its schedule. The Buccaneers are the only team to have beaten the Lions and Eagles this season. They’re also riding a four-game winning streak. Baker Mayfield’s only other start against the Cowboys was in Week 4 in 2020. He led the Browns to a 49-38 win, throwing two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Buccaneers 28, Cowboys 23.
Saad Yousuf, Cowboys beat writer: There are quite a few things that intrigue me about this game, including the aforementioned test for the Cowboys’ run game. Another thing is how the Cowboys’ pass defense holds up against a balanced Bucs offense and a veteran quarterback in Mayfield, who could try to pick on the Cowboys’ cornerback not named DaRon Bland or Jourdan Lewis. But the biggest point of intrigue for me is how the Cowboys perform if the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, which would mathematically eliminate the Cowboys from the postseason race. On the flip side, if the Eagles win, I wonder if the Cowboys come out with some extra juice. Regardless, I think the game will be close, similar to the Bengals game, but I think it will have a similar bottom-line ending, too. Bucs 27, Cowboys 21.
(Photo of Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
