Micah Parsons sings another song to Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Parsons, 61, was hired as the Cowboys dragged on a 5-7 season in the final year of McCarthy's contract after the head coach sparked controversy last month by saying he was open to returning. He supports McCarthy returning in 2025.
“The players, the coaches, everyone wants to come back and have a fair fight, because the injury was a foreshadowing of what this season was really going to be like.” Parsons told ESPN. He spoke on “Monday Night Football” in an interview scheduled to air before the Cowboys-Bengals game. “The injury was terrible. And, you know, it really sucks. Meet Zach [Martin]D method [DeMarcus Lawrence] As far as I know, it wasn't the year he had planned. He got off to a great start. It really sucks.
“Coaching-wise, Coach Mike and I and his relationship have always been really good. He's always taken really good care of me. I just don't know what the business side is going to be. [Owner and general manager Jerry Jones] He has his own ideas about who he wants to coach. This is his team. I'm like a pawn in this business. ”
The head coach has been in the spotlight since the Cowboys suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Packers in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season.
Things haven't improved this season, with quarterback Dak Prescott only appearing in eight games due to a season-ending hamstring injury.
After last month's blowout loss to the Eagles, which dropped the Cowboys to 3-6, Parsons had some interesting comments about McCarthy.
“That's above my pay grade, whether Mike's going to be coaching next year or not,” Parsons said. “Aside from what the coach says, Mike can leave here and go anywhere.'' The guy who I think is kind of bad is the guy who [guard] I wanted to have a trophy for Zach Martin and the guys who are probably retiring in their final year.
“You want to win games and do great against these legends who have put in more time and effort than Mike McCarthy. So I feel a lot of sympathy and hurt for those guys.”
Parsons later denied reacting to his comments on a podcast episode, saying he never threw a coach “under the bus.”
McCarthy also had a 47-32 regular season record with Dallas. Prescott has backed him, saying in an interview with Yahoo Sports that he “totally” believes in the 18-year NFL head coach.
In a recent interview with 105.3 The Fan, owner Jerry Jones also said it would be “not crazy” for McCarthy to get a contract extension despite the tough season the Cowboys have endured.
Parsons would welcome this, as the fifth-year option on his rookie contract could extend his contract through the 2025 season.
The Cowboys already have big contracts with Prescott and star wideout CeeDee Lamb, so Parsons will likely be a top priority for re-signing.
“I’m a Jerry guy,” he said. “I think it's going to be pretty difficult…I know it's easier said than done because I'm not at the table, but that's my guy. We talked about it and we both know where each other stands. We talk about how grateful we are, but numbers don't really speak for themselves. I know. But at the end of the day, whatever it takes to remain a Cowboy until I retire, that's what I want. And I know it's going to take some difficult conversations and reality checks. But I think I have what it takes to come here.”
Parsons added, “I don't know” if he wants to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league. That would require more than $34 million per season, more than the 49ers' Nick Bosa.
The Cowboys star is currently scheduled to earn $21.3 million in 2025.
“It really depends on the situation of who we're trying to get and who we're trying to bring back. I look at it from a business side as well. If we're aggressive and play next to me… If you're going to bring in a player who's going to play, it's because, as you can see, right now you don't know who you're playing. [with] Besides Marshawn [Kneeland] and sam [Williams] And seriously [Smith]. Who will be in our ring with Chauncey? [Golston] and author [Odighizuwa] and D method [potentially] Not being here.
“So for me it's all about the foundation of the team and 'How can I build the best foundation and play with the players that have given me so much success?' He helped me get to where I am and become the highest paid player. So we want as many people as possible to come here and continue to have success and continue winning seasons. ”
Parsons, who was selected 12th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and is in his fourth season with the Cowboys, has 6.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits and one forced fumble in eight games this season.
