Jerry Jones opens up on Micah Parsons contract negotiation: 'Wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t do it that way'

Last week, Dallas Cowboys EDGE Micah Parsons revealed in a post to social media that he’d officially requested a trade. Since as early as 2023, Parsons has been seeking to secure his future with the Cowboys. However, negotiations have repeatedly stalled or, worse, not occurred whatsoever.

The Cowboys exercised the fifth-year option on Parsons’ rookie contract this season, but would have to either sign him to a new contract or use their franchise tag on him to keep him with the organization after this season. In an exclusive interview with USA Today‘s Jarrett Bell, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones discussed Parsons’ contract negotiations.

“Let me say this just right,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t do it that way. I should be trying to get the most value for the Cowboys. I’ve seen players I wish we had renegotiated their contracts earlier and I’ve had several that I was sorry I renegotiated their contract earlier. The idea that if you wait there’s more money (spent) forgets that in between that wait, you get to evaluate and you frankly get to see if you’re dealing with the same physical elements of it.”

The Cowboys have been burnt in the past by signing promising young players to massive contracts, only for their production to decline shortly after. The Cowboys could technically use their franchise tag to prevent Parsons from becoming an unrestricted free agent until 2028.

Of course, that wouldn’t be cheap for the Cowboys, but it would prevent them from locking into a long-term relationship with Parsons. Jerry Jones believes it’s important for the team to keep their options open as long as possible.

“It’s almost akin to an option quarterback,” Jones said. “He can step out, he can either hand it to that guy going down the line, or he can come on out and keep it, or he can pitch it. Three different things. The longer you give him to get to the sideline, the better chance you’ve got to make the better play.

“So, I’ve never, in any way, forgotten all the things that can happen to you if you go too quick. And that list of going too quick is just as long as the negative of getting it done early every time.”

Despite requesting to be traded, Micah Parsons is still attending the Cowboys’ training camp to avoid NFL fines. Alas, Parsons shouldn’t expect Jones’ mindset to suddenly change due to his good attendance.

“I’m not in any way revisiting the mentality that I have about how I go about negotiations,” Jones said. “Not at all. The buck does stop here.”