If former Cowboys’ LB Darren Hambrick were around, his famous soundbite “What do voluntary mean?” would no longer be relevant.

Hambrick was referring to voluntary workouts after being asked why one of his teammates at the time was not present.

The voluntary portion of the offseason has come and gone, and the Dallas Cowboys reported to The Star today for mandatory minicamp. Well, not everyone.

The most glaring absence from the first day of mandatory minicamp is star WR CeeDee Lamb, who is in the midst of negotiations for a new contract. I was hopeful he would sign immediately after Vikings’ star Justin Jefferson but we are still waiting.

Lamb is doing his own workouts while the team and his agent attempt to hammer out a new deal to keep him in Dallas for the foreseeable future. The show goes on, however.

One player’s absence can’t stop the whole train, and the presence of another star player might have softened the blow of Lamb’s absence.

Micah Parsons, who missed all but one practice during OTAs, was in attendance and working closely with Asst. DL Coach Greg Ellis.

Parsons took the time to answer some questions from the media after practice, and his answers to those questions might raise some eyebrows.

Quotes are taken from the Twitter/X feed of Jon Machota, analyst for The Athletic.

Back to January

During one of Parsons’ podcast streams in January after the embarrassing home Wildcard round loss to the Green Bay Packers, he hoped the Cowboys would be “all-in” this 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 greater.”

The Cowboys did not, in fact, go “all-in” by our definition. I won’t beat a dead horse any more than most of us already have, but two outside free agents signed in the first month isn’t what we meant.

Dallas did little to nothing in free agency but that’s nothing new. Those of you who haven’t learned that yet need to pay more attention.

Is He Disappointed?

“It doesn’t disappoint me. If you figure out how the money goes and how the contract goes, you kind of understand the business side.

“I think CeeDee takes up the value of two or three players. You’re talking about $30+ million per year. If you do that, how can you afford to pay CeeDee Lamb? That goes on for other guys potentially.”

By “other guys”, Parsons is likely speaking of QB Dak Prescott, possibly DT Osa Odighizuwa, and maybe even himself. Parsons is eligible for an extension but history shows us the Cowboys will wait until he holds out like Lamb before they get it done.

My main takeaway from that quote is Parsons expressing how Lamb takes up the value of two or three players. Say it ain’t so, Micah. That’s front office speak and a pathetic excuse not to add talent through free agency.

Maybe he’s just using this business talk to set negotiations for himself by showing the front office he understands it’s business. Emotions won’t play a part when it comes time to sit at the table, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing for the Cowboys.

On the Talent of the Team

“The mindset I have is that we have seven All-Pros or however the count may be. It might be more, it might be less, but we got at least three guys that can be All-Pro.”

He then specifically mentioned LG Tyler Smith and TE Jake Ferguson as players who could have breakout seasons to earn those honors.

“I think a lot of guys are going to have breakout years. I think that plays into it, too. When you talk about all these guys, it just leads to saying ‘Hey when are the other guys gonna step up and be better for the team?’.”

With so many players leaving in free agency this offseason, that list of players who need to “step up and be better for the team” has grown from last season.

Losing players like LT Tyron Smith, C Tyler Biadasz, RB Tony Pollard, WR Michael Gallup, CB Stephon Gilmore, DT Johnathan Hankins, and S Jayron Kearse has created unique opportunities for other players.

Parsons finished by saying, “I like what we’re doing. I think just being out here today, people are definitely going to be very surprised at just how good we are.”

I hope so, too, Micah. I hope so, too.