Micah Parsons skipped second week of Cowboys OTAs (as he should)
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer praised linebacker Micah Parsons for participating in the first week of the team's annual OTA sessions. For the second week, Parsons wasn't present.
Yes, the workouts are voluntary. And, no, Parsons shouldn't volunteer to risk injury until he gets the long-term contract he should have gotten a year ago.
The Cowboys continue to misplay the situation. They drag their feet. And the price goes up. And the player is less prepared when it's time to go play games that count.
It's a ridiculous way of doing business. But the Cowboys keep repeating the pattern.
It became obvious last year, when the Cowboys were on the front end of (again) waiting too long and then paying too much for receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott. Cowboys management is clueless when it comes to managing young talent.
If they would have paid Parsons last year, it would have cost a lot less than $40 million per year. If they would have paid Parsons immediately after the end of the season, the deal likely would have been closer to $35 million than $45 million. Now, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has set a new bar. Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt could push it higher before Parsons puts pen to paper.
Regardless, the price will keep going up. And Parsons won't be as ready for the regular season as he could have been.
Especially if the foot dragging lasts into camp and Parsons holds out and the Cowboys eventually and inevitably cave as Week 1 approaches.
There are many reasons why the Cowboys have gone 30 years without an appearance in the NFC Championship. One very real reason is the chronic stubbornness of owner Jerry Jones to pay his core players sooner than later.
Our guess? He knows it. And he'd rather have the latest unsettled contract become the top story for sports media than to see his team benefit from the relative irrelevance of peace.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jaylon Smith Seeking a Career Revival with Las Vegas Raiders
Jaylon Smith Seeking a Career Revival with Las Vegas Raiders originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith has reportedly been turning heads during OTAs with the Las Vegas Raiders. Advertisement After not playing at all last season, Smith is aiming to secure a spot on the 53-man roster in his second stint with the Raiders. Smith signed with Las Vegas following a tryout during rookie minicamp and hasn't looked back. The 29-year-old Indiana native is approaching this opportunity with Las Vegas like his career depends on it. Smith recorded the first interception of Raiders OTAs, per team reporter Levi Edwards. Linebacker is a position of need for the Raiders after they did not re-sign breakout star Robert Spillane, who signed with the Patriots as a free agent. Smith is competing for a role in an inside linebacker group that has more questions than answers. Advertisement Newly signed linebackers Elandon Roberts and Devin White are the projected starters. The rest of the linebacker room features unproven players, including Cody Lindenberg, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While it has been three years since Smith last played more than 10 games in a season, he had a productive year with the Giants in 2022. Across 11 games during the 2022 season, he compiled 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 31 defensive stops, per PFF. With the Cowboys, Smith proved to be a productive player early in his career - his battle to overcome an horrific knee injury at Notre Dame is legendary - and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. However, after signing a five-year, $63.75 million extension with Dallas in 2019, Smith's production began to steadily decline—leading to his release during the 2021 season. Hopefully Smith will find his footing with the Raiders and resurrect his career. Advertisement Related: Murray Jr. Promises One Key Improvement for the Cowboys Defense Related: New Cowboys QB Reveals Four 'Blessings' Of Surprise Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders Sounds Off on Browns QB Competition Amid Rumors He Could be Cut
Shedeur Sanders Sounds Off on Browns QB Competition Amid Rumors He Could be Cut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There are more eyes on Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders than any other player at the team's organized team activities (OTAs). Advertisement Sanders has been all over social media following his historic slide during the 2025 NFL draft, in which he was projected by many analysts to go in the first round but fell all the way to the fifth before being grabbed by the Browns with the 144th overall pick. The 23-year-old signal-caller is locked into a heated battle in a loaded QB room with Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco, former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, who was drafted two rounds before Sanders. Some believe Sanders if fourth on the depth chart just a few weeks away from training camp, and ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi recently stated the former Colorado QB is at risk of being cut during camp. And while Sanders will likely be the most-talked about storyline for the rest of the Browns' offseason, he recently opened up about how he feels competing with three other passers for the starting job on his YouTube channel. Advertisement 'It's lit,' Sanders said. 'Quarterback room is fun. Every day is fun going in there. Everything is real good, I'm happy. We got a bunch of different personalities in the quarterback room, and just talking to the quarterbacks that took NFL snaps, that played in the league, you're living the experience through them also and ask them whatever questions come to mind.' Some believe Sanders is a longshot to make the Browns' roster considering teams rarely carry four QBs on their regular-season roster. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of wrote earlier this month that Pickett is actually believed to be the leader in the clubhouse to be the team's QB1. 'It's a tough call before we've even seen the first practice of organized team activities, but I know Kenny Pickett heads in as the frontrunner to win the starting job at the outset,' Cabot wrote. 'He'll take the initial first-team reps in OTAs and probably the mandatory minicamp, and it seems like it's his job to try to keep for now.' Related: Shedeur Sanders' Browns Roster Spot in Jeopardy, Says ESPN Analyst This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Insider Suggests Commanders Could Sign Nick Chubb
Insider Suggests Commanders Could Sign Nick Chubb originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In 2023, running back Austin Ekeler was among the biggest villains of the fantasy football world. As he dealt with an ankle injury, his efficiency dipped to a meager 3.5 yards per carry as his production fell off a cliff. Advertisement A season later, Ekeler's production continued to decline. But in a new role, with redefined expectations, his reputation improved. On a resurgent Washington Commanders team, he wasn't alone in that regard. Now, Washington is attempting to get quarterback Jayden Daniels over the hump. It has brought in established veterans who are proven quantities, on and off the field. Could another veteran running back be next? ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler suggested that the Commanders could sign former All-Pro running back Nick Chubb. 'I know he [Nick Chubb] expects to play,' Fowler said for ESPN Cleveland. 'The running back market is tough. A lot of these guys are waiting, I think probably up until training camp at this point. I do not expect Chubb back with the Browns barring some sort of surprise or injury. Advertisement 'There are some teams out there that could be in the market for one. You know, the Commanders or the Bears come to mind. They could be looking for an extra back at some point. Right now he's in that mode where you just survey the landscape, see what develops, and keep working out to play next year.' Like Ekeler a year ago, Chubb is coming off a concerning season as it pertains to both his production and injury history. After recovering from a second catastrophic knee injury, Chubb ran for 3.3 yards per attempt—nearly two yards below his career average of 5.1. His toe injury ended his season and cast further doubt upon his NFL future. Advertisement As far as bounce-back candidates go, Chubb's case can't be considered strong. Age-30 seasons don't bring good news for most backs, much less those with Chubb's baggage. However, the Commanders could bring in Chubb with the intention of handing him a small-time role behind Brian Robinson Jr., especially with the allure of a deep playoff run. Perhaps more playing time or guaranteed money would appeal to Chubb more. As his market continues to shrink, though, Washington shouldn't be ignored as a landing spot. Related: Kingsbury Previews Samuel's Impact on Commanders Related: Commanders Move on J.K. Dobbins Could Be Super Bowl 'Final Piece' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
