THE Dallas Cowboys have disputed claims that Micah Parsons will be traded as the line-backer’s contract talks loom.
Parsons, who made headlines for walking off before time expired against the Bengals two weeks ago, is up for a major extension.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was adamant Parsons remains part of Cowboys’ foundation into the future.
Jones said any idea of trading the two-time first-team All-Pro has “never been uttered in this organization.”
Jones’ comment was in response to the NFL Network report claiming the Cowboys hadn’t ruled out trading Parsons.
Parsons is under contract through 2025 after the Cowboys picked up his fifth-year option in the spring.
He is scheduled to make $21.32 million in 2025 if he does not sign an extension sooner.
Dallas hold a team option worth $24 million, before Parsons could become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Parsons was asked about that very notion after Dallas’ 30-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
“I understand how that business side goes,” Parsons told The Athletic.
“There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else. Obviously I’ve stated that I want to be here.
“I’m just gonna keep playing hard while I’m here. If I’m here for the next 5-6 years, I’m gonna keep playing hard then too.
“Ain’t nothing really gonna make a difference, Micah is gonna play hard.”
Parsons did not participate in offseason workouts with Dallas last spring.
But he said he still wants to play for the Cowboys.
Parsons, 25, has recorded 32 tackles, 8.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games (all starts) this season.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection in his first three seasons in the league, Parsons has totalled 245 tackles, 49 sacks, eight forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 60 career games.
He made headlines last week after walking off before the match expired in the Cowboys’ 27-20 defeat to the Bengals.
The 25-year-old was still on the field, walking toward the tunnel, as the final seconds went off the clock on December 9.
He did not go to midfield after the game to make nice with the team that just handed him a loss that he said after the game hurt him “even worse than the playoff loss.”
Dallas have struggled this season with a 6-8 record meaning they will likely miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb put pen to paper on a $136 million extension in August.
Lamb’s four-year deal makes him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
