Blogging The Boys
When do you think the Cowboys will finally land a Micah Parsons extension?
At a time not too incredibly long from now, Micah Parsons will receive a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys. Since stepping on the field in 2021, this former 12th overall pick from Penn State has continuously wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks. The Cowboys were fortunate to get him, considering they were targeting one of the top two cornerbacks in this draft class, yet they were taken back-to-back in the two picks right before them. They were also fortunate that this super athletic off-ball linebacker emerged as one of the best edge rushers in the league.
The time has come to pay up, and that’s what the Cowboys will do when Parsons signs his new deal. There is growing frustration among the fanbase that this deal isn’t done already. It’s become a common thing for this football team to drag their feet when it comes to these contract negotiations. Why should this be any different?
While there’s quite a bit of hoopla across the media with these contract ordeals, it’s really just business as usual. So, why does it feel like such a huge mess? A big reason for that is that there are a lot of narratives thrown out there that are misleading. To gain a better understanding of what’s really happening, let’s run through those narratives and try to determine which ones hold water.
Parsons became first eligible for an extension last year. Had the front office signed him then, his price would have been cheaper because we all know that with each new year, the cost goes up because the salary cap goes up.
However, to sign him last year would mean that Parsons and his representation would have to agree. Why would they do that? Why would he sign a contract when a bigger one is right around the corner?
Most contract extensions are given when there is one year left on the deal, which is this year for Parsons. It’s rare that players opt to do it early, and if they do, there has to be a reason for it. The Cowboys lucked out when they signed Tyron Smith with a lengthy eight-year deal with two years left on his deal. Now, there was a lot of stuff going on with Smith and his family with money battles, but a $100 million carrot was dangled in front of him, and he took it. Parsons’ representation (Athlete’s First) is not going to succumb to such temptations.
Another narrative that builds up steam is the idea that every new extension that happens for a player at the same position drives up the asking price. In that scenario, everyone would be waiting, right?
In this business, that is the NFL, agents talk to other agents, owners talk to other owners, and agents and owners...
