Can Micah Parsons become elite as he savors life as the Dallas Cowboys’ newest star?
Ever since the end of the season when Micah Parsons seemingly did everything and was everyone for the Dallas Cowboys, questions abounded about what he would do for an encore.
How could he possibly top a rookie season that saw him become an instant star when he was all over the field as an impact player at linebacker, defensive end and safety?
Well, before that answer is addressed, Parsons’ spectacularly busy offseason must be considered.
He made an appearance at Wrestlemania in AT&T Stadium, threw a first pitch before a Texas Rangers game, sat courtside to watch the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs, attended a Dallas Stars hockey game and had a faulty dropped puck back in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Parsons’ offseason has been the epitome of “Why sip from the cup when you can drink fror the river?”
And he is loving every minute of it.
“I’m enjoying new experiences, going to places I’ve never been, and just enjoying life and everything that comes with it,” Parsons said with a smile.
At 23, Parsons should be enjoying and making the most of his new opportunities.
Of course, none of Parsons’ offseason activities and frollicking has been lost on the Cowboys coaching staff, whose task is to keep him humble and focused.
Puck drop hockey mishap
When he went back home to Harrisburg, where he was also given the key to the city, the former Penn State star was slated to drop the ceremonial puck ahead of an AHL match between the Hershey Bears and Syracuse Crunch.
He walked out on the ice and dropped the puck before a player from either team was at center ice, causing quite the commotion and laughs on social media.
“I figured that one out pretty quick, man,” he said with a laugh.
Parsons, hockey neophyte, will get a chance to redeem himself at a Stars game next season.
But the damage was done.
The video of the mishap made it back to the Cowboys defensive meeting room and was shown on film before everyone.
It was good-natured fun.
But the point wasn’t lost on Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy. How will Parsons balance the charge to improve with his newfound celebrity, something that is compounded by the high-profile status of America’s Team?
“Of all the years I’ve talked about and emphasized making the second-year jump, the Dallas Cowboys is the biggest challenge ever and that’s going to be part of his challenge,” McCarthy said. “He’s been extremely celebrated and so forth and he’s done a lot. I don’t think he’s missed a hockey game. I don’t think he’s missed anything outside of here. But that’s all part of the challenge.”
Helping Parsons go from great to elite
The mission for the Cowboys is to help Parsons move from a great player to an elite player, McCarthy said.
He was unquestionably great as a rookie.
He racked up 84 tackles, 13 sacks — two shy of the NFL rookie record — three forced fumbles and defended three passes in 16 games. Parsons became the only rookie with 80-plus tackles and 10-plus sacks in the last 25 seasons.
His 30 QB hits were the most by a rookie since the stat began being tracked in 2008.
He was a first-team All-Pro, named to the Pro Bowl, won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and finished tied for second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Now, it’s time to take the next step.
“Our desire, and it needs to be his desire, is for him to be an elite player not just a great player,” McCarthy said. “The elite ones bring everybody with them. How they work, how they compete in practice, how they compete in the weight room, how they compete at garbage can basketball in the locker room.
“That’s all part of culture growth and establishing that and that’s something that he has an opportunity to really make a huge impact in our football team. So that would all be part of the second year jump criteria that I would view Micah.”
In some respects, Parsons is already doing the latter as his rookie season has motivated two-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence to raise his level of play.
The DeMarcus Lawrence challenge
In 2021, Parsons led the Cowboys in sacks (13), quarterback hits (30), pressures (47), quarterback knock downs (17) and tackles for losses (20).
Lawrence announced last week that he is looking to restate his dominance after he was shown up by Parsons.
Parsons heard Lawrence’s challenge and is thrilled to have some competition. He knows it’s only best for the team.
But he also left a warning for his older teammate.
“I want D-Law to step up. I want D-Law to be who he is. I’m not taking that away from him,” Parsons said. “But sorry to tell him, he’s never getting that back. I want him to get all the enjoyment that he possibly can, feed his head so he can be a 10-sack guy, great. But if 10’s the number, I’m going for 20. You’ve just got to go out there and compete. It’s just going to be a race to the quarterback, like it or not. I’m excited.”
The back and forth didn’t go unnoticed by McCarthy, who called it healthy competition.
He said older players like Lawrence are looking for new ways to be challenged.
Call it the Parsons effect.
And he embraces it.
“I think if you play hard, people just want to play with you and be on the same page,” Parsons said. “I think him getting someone else that challenges him and plays the same way as him on this defense may even spark the D-Law you saw from way back when. I’m just excited. He has something in him that I don’t see many people have, and that’s just a dog.”
Looking forward to a fun 2022 season
There is no bigger dog, or Lion, as he likes to refer to himself, than Parsons.
And despite the fun he has had this offseason, Parsons is focused on being better in 2022.
He is admittedly more comfortable than he was as a rookie because he is in his second year and is no longer shy about speaking his mind in the locker room or on the field.
“Now that I’ve got a year of experience, I’m able to be a little more vocal with the guys, explaining what I like to do, what I don’t like to do, what helps me if you do this that way,” Parsons said. “And just having that open communication this offseason just been beneficial for the guys.”
He has also made a point to be a resource to the rookies.
“I’m like, ‘Bro, just always remember, you’ve just got to be a baller out there today.’ If you’re making plays, they probably won’t say too much to you. But don’t take it too literal. Be comfortable out there. Enjoy what you’re doing and have fun with it. Don’t overthink. Don’t think. If you’re going to make a mistake, do it 100% so that way you fix it and you’re still playing at 100%,’” Parsons said. “That’s what I always tell the young guys.”
As far as his own game is concerned, Parsons said his focus is not on building off last year but starting all over again.
He is going to train with Cowboys legendary defensive end DeMarcus Ware before training camp to get some extra pass rush tips.
It’s been a great offseason.
But he is ready for a new season where he can be a baller again.
“I think it’s going to be a real fun year about what I’m going to do this year,” he said.
And if this offseason has been an example, no one does fun like Parsons.
So look out.
