The Situation at Hand

Dallas Cowboys training camp began last week with Pro Bowl pass rusher Micah Parsons reporting to camp but not participating, as he awaited a contract extension. Last season, quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb didn't get their respective new deals done until close to the season, so many assumed Parsons' situation would follow suit. However, on Friday, Parsons posted on social media that he is requesting a trade.

"I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys," he wrote. "My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally."

What Led Up to Parsons' Trade Request?

At the start of camp, Parsons said he was not frustrated, but he was discouraged. Without any formal negotiations at all, he finally felt it was necessary to make the request. It was not made lightly. Parsons grew up a Cowboys fan and on draft night in 2021 he willed it into fruition, even after Dallas traded back to No. 12 overall in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Parsons said the "repeated shots" led to this decision. At the opening press conference of training camp, owner and general manager Jerry Jones made a flippant remark that even if the Cowboys signed Parsons, it would not guarantee his availability because he "could get hit by a car."

After several fans yelled "Pay Micah!" last week, Jones called those "faint" in relation to what he heard from fans in the Lamb talks last year. Executive vice president Stephen Jones said of the fans' chant, "It doesn't change anything. We want to pay Micah, too. He's got to want to be paid, too."

Jones' History with Players Who Requested a Trade

Multiple sources cannot recall a time when a Cowboys player requested a trade. While there have been contentious negotiations in the past -- running back Emmitt Smith missed two regular-season games in 1993 -- it had not gotten to the point where a player would ask to move on.

While the Cowboys have ultimately paid their star players, it has taken time to get deals finished, including with Prescott (twice), running back Ezekiel Elliott, guard Zack Martin and Lamb in recent years.

If he opts to sit, Parsons can be fined $50,000 a day if he leaves camp. However, since he is on his rookie deal, it can be rescinded by the club. Last year, Lamb went through something similar with his hold out.

Ultimately, Jones has never lost a star player he wanted to keep. Parsons, however, has pushed the situation further than anybody with his trade request.

The Impact on the Defense

Take away Joe Burrow from the Cincinnati Bengals and how would they be? Or Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs. That's the type of impact Parsons has on the Cowboys.

Parsons has recorded 52.5 sacks in his first four seasons, trailing only Reggie White (70), Derrick Thomas (58), J.J. Watt (57) and DeMarcus Ware (53.5) since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Parsons and White are the only players to record at least 12 sacks in each of their first four seasons, and Parsons reached 12 in 2024 despite sitting out four games because of a high ankle sprain.

The Cowboys like their pass rushing depth with Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams, rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku and Marshawn Kneeland, but they don't have the same impact as Parsons, who was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in each of his first three seasons.

That foursome has combined for 64 sacks with 55.5 coming from Fowler.

What Are People Around the League Saying?

After speaking with multiple league executives in the hours after the Parsons news, there is genuine intrigue and surprise about why Dallas takes this tactic with star players.

"They are costing themselves millions every summer," said a high-ranking NFC executive, adding that the team's apparent interest in headlines and television conversation around Dallas' contract issues can't be enough for the franchise to offset the money lost.

People I've talked to leave open the possibility that cooler heads will prevail later into August. But they note that Dallas is also playing with fire regarding a player and agent (David Mulugheta) who don't mind the role of villain.

"Wrong player," a source with direct knowledge of Parsons' process said of the Cowboys' tactics.

Parsons is the rare star player with no blemishes -- he's young, injury-free and on a Reggie White-like trajectory.

How Are Other Players Responding to This News?

Reaction to the Parsons news spread quickly across social media, including from several Cowboys teammates.

On X, Lamb responded: "Never fails dawg. Just pay the man, what you owe em. No need for the extra curricular."

Cowboys teammates DeMarvion Overshown, Trevon Diggs, and Juanyeh Thomas each changed their X profile picture to include Parsons.

Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl center Eric Wood posted a pic of Parsons in a Bills uniform holding a Lombardi Trophy with the caption: "Looks good to me."

Former Arizona Cardinals All-Pro defensive lineman J.J. Watt posted: "Take care of your best players early. Saves money. Saves headaches. The longer you wait, the higher the price."