Micah Parsons breaks silence: defends Dak Prescott, criticizes Cowboys’ defensive scheme
Micah Parsons is silent no more.
The star defender did not talk to the media after the Dallas Cowboys devastating playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers or do his weekly podcast on the Bleacher Report.
That changed on Wednesday as Parsons prepared to participate in the Pro Bowl games in Orlando.
Parsons said falling behind 27-0 and getting blown out by the Packers at home was too much for him to take.
“It’s that you lose the way you do and at home,” Parsons said. “We had talked about how much [better] we had played at home, how much it stood for us to be at home and then to go like that at home was completely embarrassing and unacceptable. I couldn’t even look at that loss or feel any type of way because of how embarrassed I felt It took me a while to even show my face in public. I disappeared completely.”
Parsons did put out a post on X last week distancing himself from critical comments made by brother about the Cowboys and their defensive scheme.
But he echoed some of those sentiments to explain his seemingly lack of impact plays against the Packers. Parsons, who led the Cowboys with a career-high 14 sacks, had just one quarterback hit and two tackles in the game.
Parsons appeared to blame the scheme of defensive coordinator Dan Quinn for not being prepared and not using him more at linebacker in a game in which the Cowboys couldn’t stop the run or the pass.
“We were just outperformed out schemed, they had an answer for everything,” Parsons said. “People said, ‘why don’t you go to linebacker?’. Guess what, the packages are in for me to go to linebacker. I can only play what is called. I’m not putting out personnel. I’ve even told multiple players and coaches that I’m very fine with playing linebacker in the playoffs if that’s what y’all want me to do. I just want to win.”
Parsons said he was at peace with his performance.
“I say that because I don’t think I’ve could have done anything more to try to win that game,” Parsons said. “I don’t have no regrets about how I performed or what I put into the game.”
“I challenge anyone to actually go and look at the game film and say did Micah play his heart.”
Parsons came to the defense of quarterback Dak Prescott from criticism about his performance. He shot down the narratives that the Cowboys need to make a change at quarterback and said the defense was much to blame for the loss to the Packers.
“A lot of blame goes on to Dak Prescott because he is a quarterback, and people will look at his playoff wins, but we gave up over 40-plus points,” Parsons said. “Where do you expect Dak Prescott to be? Do you expect him to be Superman? He cannot win games by himself. I’ve always said football is not a game of one man. It’s a game of 22 men that go on the field and you need to rely on every 22 guys to win that game. ... So, I do not put down Dak Prescott. He is an All-Pro. He played a terrific game.
“People want to drive whatever narrative fits best for them, and that’s what I’m realizing about this game of football. And that’s what kind of drives away the happiness because people don’t appreciate how good someone has been. They want to attack them for where they’re at or what they have done and things like that. So, I think Dak came a long way. Obviously, one of his better years since I’ve been with the Cowboys.”
Parsons also expressed support for coach Mike McCarthy, who is heading into a make-or-break season in 2024 after three straight 12-5 seasons have ended with early playoff exits and the Cowboys still searching for their first trip to the Super Bowl since their last title in 1995.
“I believe in Mike McCarthy. We won a lot of games with Mike,” Parsons said. “Hopefully, he can take us all the way and we drive this culture and we change the narrative that people have.”
Parsons has not given up hope.
But he is challenging the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones follow up on his promise to go all in in 2024.
“They are talking about, we’re going all in this year. That is what I hope for,” Parsons said. “I’m 24 years old. I’ve been in this league three years and I kind of have seen it all. And I hope that we go all in. I hope that we go out and get the players that were missing because we didn’t do that this year. You know, I hope that we challenge ourselves to become better.
“I do see a Super Bowl my future. I want to be a Super Bowl champion.”
This story was originally published February 1, 2024 at 10:01 AM.
