FRISCO, Texas — After not attending the Dallas Cowboys’ organized team activities the previous two weeks, Micah Parsons was in attendance for the start of mandatory minicamp Tuesday.
The All-Pro pass rusher took part in individual and team drills, even showing off some of his boxing skills at the end of practice.
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“I think I’ve always had my own way of doing things,” Parsons said. “Defense is defense, I’m pretty much caught up on everything. I went over it. (Defensive run game coordinator Paul Guenther) was meeting up with me. I really wasn’t missing anything. I feel like I was just getting better, getting stronger, getting faster, doing my things, what Micah does in the offseason, wrestling (sumo wrestlers). I just have fun.”
Parsons pointed out that in 2017, former Los Angeles Rams superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald skipped all of training camp and then went on to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year that season. Donald also won the award in 2018 after skipping the entire offseason program. Parsons has finished second twice and third once in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting during his three seasons in Dallas.
GO DEEPERHow Cowboys' star receiver CeeDee Lamb is impacted by Justin Jefferson's deal“Are we forgetting these times,” Parsons asked reporters. “We’re talking about the best defensive player wasn’t even in camp. And we’re in (OTAs), voluntary at that. I’m just looking at a time for my body to heal. I’m playing as 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 ready for the year.
“Understanding the business side of it, too. (My body) is all I have to offer the Cowboys. Before you sign a contract, you go through a physical. This is your engine. This is where all of my equity lies. I have no equity outside of this to offer them. So you have to understand that availability is the best ability. If I’m not available when it really matters, because I’m banged up or my body is not healing properly or I didn’t get all the rehab or treatment that I need to be successful, then that’s on me. It’s not on them. They’ll just find the next me.”
Parsons said he took several months off after the season to get his body feeling healthy again. His goal is to stay under 250 pounds, which is what he is listed at on the team’s roster.
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“I’m super explosive,” he added. “I think I was way stronger (last season). I think I showed a lot of things that people thought I couldn’t do. I think people are going to be even more surprised this year.”
Though many will suggest he missed out on valuable time with new teammates during OTAs, Parsons says there will be plenty of opportunities for building chemistry during training camp. That will include getting on the same page with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
Parsons joked Tuesday that he and Zimmer have probably said a total of 20 words to each other.
“He’s a very quiet person,” Parsons said. “All I keep hearing from the coaches is that Zim likes it this way. But I like it this way. I can’t wait to have my true sit-down with him. I think it’ll be pretty cool, because obviously old-school mindset, old-school mentality. He’s had a lot of great players, but he ain’t never had a Micah before. It’ll be fun. And I think it’ll be unique.
“There are a lot of similarities with how he uses me with how (Dan Quinn) used me in the system. But he has more tweaks and turns of how he’s going to set things up. There’s some things that I gotta get used to, too. It’s gonna be a compromisable relationship.”
Two weeks after the Cowboys’ disappointing wild-card loss to the Green Bay Packers, Parsons said on his Bleacher Report podcast that he was hopeful Dallas would be aggressive during the offseason, adding players to help put the team over the top. The Cowboys responded with an extremely quiet offseason.
Parsons says he is not disappointed by their lack of roster activity.
Micah Parsons said in January on his podcast that he was hopeful that the Cowboys would be “all in” during the offseason. “I hope that we go out and get the players we’re missing because we didn’t do that this year. I hope that we challenge ourselves, become better and become… pic.twitter.com/z8SngZM27u
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 4, 2024
“I like what we’re doing,” he said. “I think just being out here today, people are definitely going to be very surprised how good we really are.”
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was not at minicamp. He also did not attend OTAs. Lamb is seeking a new contract. Parsons believes Lamb is the NFL’s best wide receiver, adding that if he was Lamb’s agent, he’d be seeking $36 million annually. Minnesota Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson became the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback Monday, signing a four-year deal that averages $35 million per season.
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Naturally, discussing Lamb’s contract situation led to questions about Parsons’ next deal. He has two years remaining on his rookie contract and has no problem waiting. He’s fine with Lamb and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott getting new deals before he does. Parsons sees no reason to rush because the market continues to increase and he expects to eventually become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
Legacy is important to Parsons. He understands the impact of the Cowboys brand. He would prefer to play his entire career in Dallas.
“One day,” Parsons said. “Time will tell. I can’t really put a timetable on mine. All I gotta do is keep getting sacks and that stuff will handle itself.”
(Photo: Tim Heitman / USA Today)
Jon Machota is a staff writer covering the Dallas Cowboys for The Athletic. He previously covered the Cowboys for The Dallas Morning News. He's a Detroit native and graduate of Wayne State University. Follow Jon on Twitter @jonmachota
