We all should know by now that Micah Parsons has been absent from organized team activities lately, and head coach Mike McCarthy had some things to say on Thursday.
“I’m not doing attendance,” McCarthy said. “I’m not going to come up here and talk about one player when 98 percent of them are here.”
Micah has been doing his thing outside of the team facility. Making sure that he stays in shape, and is ready to go for when the season rolls around, but with being in a new system with a new defensive coordinator, I feel like he should be there.
Last week, Micah Parsons told me he would be at the Star for voluntary OTA's this week. He was here for media day and a light lift Wednesday. Today, he isn't. Mike McCarthy: "I'm not doing attendance". Adds "I’m not gonna come up here and talk about one player when 98 percent are…
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) May 30, 2024
“Micah looks to be in really good shape,” McCarthy said. “It’s a new defense and we have work to do. He’s engaged. We will be ready when it’s time. I have confidence in him. ”
I See Both Sides
Look, I understand that Micah Parsons wants a new contract, but brother you have two years left on your rookie deal, why are you making this about you?
The reason why this really bothers me so much he isn’t there, is because Micah said himself in January that he NEEDED to be a better leader. Then go be one!
CeeDee Lamb not being around is completely understandable. but Micah, just be a leader and be there. You are going to get your money, but you have two years on your contract.
The two-time All-Pro linebacker currently has two years remaining on his rookie contract as noted, after Dallas recently picked up the fifth-year option that would pay him $21.324 million guaranteed for the 2025 season.
Again, I completely understand that he wants to get what he has already earned, but go win Defensive Player of the Year this season and get even more!
After Micah Parsons’ rookie season, Mike McCarthy said Parsons’ next challenge as a great player would be to bring other players along with him. Parsons has missed the early parts of the voluntary offseason program the last two years, so has he missed an opportunity to do that? pic.twitter.com/XWKnSRBRhH
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) May 30, 2024
Dan Quinn is gone, and Mike Zimmer is now calling the plays. This isn’t the same defense Parsons has played in the last few seasons. He has to learn an entire new playbook.
Parsons is fresh off an impressive 2023 season, recording 64 total tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 33 QB hits, and a career-high 14 sacks.
Missing Important Time
Zimmer has run a 4-3 defense for the majority of his career but was the defense coordinator under Bill Parcells and ran a 3-4 scheme. So he has shown versatility.
Zimmer had proven over the years that his defense works and Dallas has more talent than any of his teams he had when he was the Vikings head coach.
The Vikings’ defense was top-12 in points allowed in each of Zimmer’s first six seasons with the team, including a top-five finish in 2015, ’17, and ’19.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said Micah Parsons looks good but he has missed an opportunity with his absence to bond with his teammates. As far as the new defense, McCarthy says Parsons has work to do to catch up
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 30, 2024
“I think any time that you have a chance to be together, it’s an opportunity to improve,” McCarthy said, via the team’s website.
“Whether it’s in the mental realm, the physical realm and the emotional connection and so forth. It’s a long year. Training camp is the heightened focus for all of that, but it’s an opportunity that’s been missed.”
McCarthy is correct. He has every chance to be there. I get it is voluntary workouts, but man be that leader, be that best defender on the team, get in the lab, and get this new system down!
I won’t worry about this until September gets closer, but I do feel like he is missing out on important time with the new defense.
I get this is all voluntary.
This team always gives us something to talk about, and normally it is not in a good way. I am sure we will see Parsons show up on twitter at some point about the situation, it is just a matter of time. It is getting old.
