The Dallas Cowboys have traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Jerry Jones has sent Parsons packing, and in the All-Pro’s farewell message to America’s Team, he seemed to take a subtle dig at Jones.
“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control,” Parsons wrote in a long farewell.
Jones and Parsons were at odds over a new contract, a dispute that took center stage over the summer and dragged out over the last few months.
Parsons formally requested a trade on Aug. 1, but it was still believed that the two sides would come to an agreement.
Jones went on the record and confidently stated that he would not trade Parsons.
Fast forward less than a month later and now there is finally a (shocking) resolution. Parsons is gone and has been traded for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks.
Meanwhile, Parsons and the Packers have already reached an agreement on a record-breaking four-year, $188 million contract that includes $120 million fully guaranteed.
Parsons is now the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.
“He will earn an astonishing $47 million per season, followed by T.J. Watt ($41M), Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25M), and Myles Garrett ($40M).
In a stunning turn of events, Parsons is no longer a Cowboy.
At just 26, Parsons was already a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. The 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year has only gotten better since.
Parsons' Farewell
“Growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I was one of the few kids in my neighborhood who cheered for the Dallas Cowboys,” Parsons wrote.
“Nearly everyone around supported the Eagles, but I always believed in the star. To wear the blue and white at Penn State and then carry those same colors into the NFL as a Cowboy, it was more than a dream, it was destiny.
From the moment I arrived in Dallas, you embraced me and my family as your own. You made a kid from the east coast feel right at home in Texas. Every time I pulled up to work, every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight and pride of representing you. You didn’t just give me a jersey, you gave me a place to belong.
I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. My heart has always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.
This is a sad day, but not a bitter one. I’ll never forget that joy of draft night, the adrenaline of running out of the tunnel, or the brotherhood I shared with my teammates, coaches and staff who prepared me for every single game. Those memories are mine forever.
North Texas will continue to be my home in the offseason. I’ll still be here, giving back to the community that gave me so much. And no matter where the next chapter takes me, the bond we’ve built will never break.
Thank you, Cowboys Nation, for every cheer, every moment, and every ounce of love you showed me. Wearing the star has been the honor of my life.”
In just four seasons, Parsons has already recorded 52.5 sacks. He is one of only three players to record 12+ sacks in at least four of the last five seasons.
You could count on one hand the defenders that had more of an impact on a game than Parsons. There aren’t many.
Teammate CeeDee Lamb reposted a photo on his Instagram story of Parsons in a Packers uniform with an emoji that was smiling but also crying.
That is probably the mood around most of Dallas, smiling through the pain, while also crying.
In a span of a few months, the city of Dallas has lost superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and now are saying goodbye to Parsons.
The citizens of Dallas have to be thinking, “There’s no way this happened again.”
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Parsons now leaves Lamb and Dak Prescott behind to join forces with Jordan Love on a team fully ready to contend for a Super Bowl.
He could be the missing piece in Green Bay. No more hypotheticals, no more what-ifs.
Parsons is a Packer. That’s reality