OXNARD, Calif. – After giving an example of why he doesn’t call agents, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones drew a response from Roc Nation Sports, the talent agency that represented former wide receiver Dez Bryant, on Sunday morning.
Jones was asked Saturday why he doesn’t call the agent of star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who is currently in a contract dispute with the team.
Jones gave an example of how music artist Jay-Z, the founder of Roc Nation Sports, didn’t call him back when Bryant violated team rules while playing for the Cowboys.
“Jay-Z said that Dez would make all meetings,” Jones said. “Jay-Z and I negotiated the contract. We spent hours negotiating the contract. Jay-Z. And he said, ‘Anybody in my organization is on time. So my office used to be on the street corner and I’ve always been early. So they will be on time.’ And I said, ‘Where do I sign? But I’m going to call you?’ Finally, he quit taking my call.”
Sunday morning, Roc Nation Sports fired back, disputing the account from Jones by posting a statement on X.
“The claim that Mr. Carter or Roc Nation representatives did not return a call from Jerry Jones is not only a false statement, but it’s also a comical one,” the statement said in part.
The statement also said the deal, $70 million over five years, was the second-largest deal for a wide receiver in NFL history. Bryant responded to Jones’ comment with a social media post Saturday night, telling the Cowboys owner it wasn’t “smart” to mention his name. Bryant later referred to Jones’ take as disrespectful.
Currently, Parsons is conducting a hold-in during Cowboys training camp as he awaits a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Jones said he spoke with Parsons in March and thought they had a verbal agreement. Parsons told Jones he needed to speak with his agent, David Mulugheta. Jones hasn’t talked to Mulugheta, saying he rarely speaks with agents. Jones’ preference is to deal with a player directly when it pertains to contract talks. According to Jones, the offer he presented to Parsons was pulled off the table by the pass rusher. Jones apparently hasn’t authorized his lead negotiators to restart conversations on a new contract with Parsons’ agent.
Two years ago, Jones spoke with guard Zack Martin when he held out for a raise to his current deal. Of course, the Cowboys had to finalize the deal by going through Martin’s agent.
“At some point, you do have to recognize that we’re talking about under contract here,” Jones said of Parsons. “Which can diminish if somebody makes a new contract. It makes you wonder if they’ll honor that contract. We’re under contract here.”
Parsons is in the final year of his deal that will pay him $21.324 million.
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