OXNARD, Calif. – A day after requesting a trade from the Dallas Cowboys, All-Pro defensive end Micah Parsons was in attendance for the team’s Saturday training camp practice. He did not speak with reporters afterward, while Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones held court for 16 minutes, sharing his side on where things stand with the star player.
Jones is not considering a trade, adding that he thinks the world of Parsons and was not angry when he learned of the request. He views it all as part of contract negotiations. His message to Cowboys fans: “Don’t lose any sleep over it.”
“I wouldn’t be standing here with you if I didn’t think we potentially had a great future with Micah,” Jones said. “It would be a waste of all of our time. We’re in good shape. This is negotiation. But make no mistake about it, life has to go on if something happens to me or anybody else. Life does go on. This thing called the NFL, it’s not about one person, me included, in a big way.”
Jones has not spoken with Parsons since the edge rusher’s X post detailing why he no longer wants to play for the Cowboys. The pair discussed a new contract back in March. When asked Saturday if that offer is still on the table, Jones responded that Parsons “took it off.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he’s not bothered by Micah Parsons’ trade request. He views it as the same as contract negotiations with other top players. “We’re in good shape. This is negotiation.”
His message to Cowboys fans?
Jones: “Don’t lose any sleep over it.” pic.twitter.com/bUu7UwQIxa
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 2, 2025
Saturday was Dallas’ ninth practice on the two grass fields at the Staybridge Suites Oxnard – River Ridge. During the previous eight, Parsons stayed with the defensive linemen during individual drills. He was more on his own during Saturday’s drills. Wearing a Cowboys hoodie and shorts, Parsons wandered wherever he wanted. Sometimes with the quarterbacks, other times with the wide receivers.
He acknowledged fans who were chanting his name early in practice. The chants got louder as Jones walked between the two fields, making his way to the observation tower where he usually watches practice. Fans shouted “We want Micah!” and for Jones to “Sign Micah!”
Micah Parsons pic.twitter.com/ZdTzMvmniG
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 2, 2025
Micah Parsons pic.twitter.com/8nbLgpIGSR
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 2, 2025
Jones heard the chants, but he was unbothered, joking that the shouting was louder last year when star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was in a contract holdout.
It was an odd scene on Saturday and probably one that won’t change much as long as Parsons is without a new deal. It appears unlikely that’s going to happen any time soon after Parsons’ request. Both sides seem very dug in and not overly interested in starting any meaningful dialogue.
Jones believes he and Parsons had a deal done back in March, but Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, wasn’t involved. Ink never touched paper.
“When I grew up, I knew when momma wouldn’t let me do something, going to daddy and daddy letting me do it,” Jones said as an analogy of the situation. “Then going back in and saying to momma, ‘Daddy said I could do it.’ That old momma/daddy stuff, we got here doing that by nature. We’re not going to do that.”
Jones isn’t bothered by the potential distraction. He’s experienced in this field, but that doesn’t mean others have the same tolerance for ambiguity. This is the first real test for first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. He’s now tasked with trying to prevent it from becoming a distraction.
Several of Parsons’ teammates rallied behind him following the trade request. “Just pay the man what you owe em,” Lamb wrote in a post on X.
“I think it’s good that our guys are loving and supporting each other. I think that’s part of being on a team,” Schottenheimer said of the players’ response to Parsons’ situation. “But I don’t get caught up in that stuff.”
Schottenheimer didn’t go into specifics about the situation when asked about it before Saturday’s practice, but he repeatedly said he had “good conversations” with Parsons and others involved in the negotiations, and he doesn’t think the dispute will be a distraction.
“Our guys are focused on what we’re trying to build,” Schottenheimer said. “As we get closer to a game week, it’s exciting. We got the (Los Angeles) Rams coming in here next week. There are plenty of things for us to focus on. We’re almost through the install.
“Our guys have a very singular focus, and that’s getting better and getting ready to have a hell of a practice today.”
The Cowboys’ season opener is less than a month away. If there’s still no deal at that point, it’s unclear whether Parsons will be on the field as Dallas opens the season against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Micah is a competitor,” Schottenheimer said. “I hope to see Micah out there soon. When the business gets worked out, it gets worked out.”
