Dallas Cowboys begin voluntary workouts with Micah Parsons in attendance
The Dallas Cowboys began voluntary workouts on Monday with star defensive end Micah Parsons in attendance, according to multiple team sources.
Parsons, who is in the middle of a negotiation for a mega contract extension with the team, has not been present for voluntary workouts in each of the last two seasons, opting instead to do independent training away from the team. His attendance this offseason has been heavily discussed during his contract negotiations. It was expected that he’d attend, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Parsons’ presence also differs from last offseason when wide receiver CeeDee Lamb held out from all team activities until he received a new contract. Lamb didn’t get his deal until a little over two weeks before the season began, leading to his holdout lasting throughout voluntary workouts, OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp. Parsons has stated multiple times that he doesn’t plan on holding out, and that remains true as of Monday.
Parsons is expected to land a deal north of $40 million per season this offseason after a four-year start to his career that has placed him among the NFL’s elite pass rushers. His 12-or-more sacks in each of his first four seasons is a feat that has only been accomplished by Hall of Famer Reggie White in NFL history.
A key part of the negotiation has been the Cowboys ownership, led by Jerry Jones, wanting Parsons to take on more of a leadership role in future seasons. With the departures of DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin, a void on the team’s leadership council exists.
“Micah has to be the player that he wants paid as,” owner Jerry Jones said at the NFL League Meeting earlier this month. “He has to be a tremendous leader for the Dallas Cowboys. He has the skill, he has the capacity mentally, and so for us to justify the kinds of dollars we’re talking about with any basis, he has to literally lead the way.”
The Cowboys are one of seven teams allowed to begin voluntary workouts before all other NFL teams due to the coaching change this offseason. The rest of the NFL will kickoff their offseason schedule next week.
Dallas will hold its OTA workouts on May 19-20, May 22, May 28-30, June 2-3 and June 5. The team’s mandatory minicamp will take place June 10-12. Parsons is expected to be in attendance for all dates.
