The Micah Parsons-Cowboys drama is over. And so is his tenure in Dallas.
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The All-Pro edge rusher was traded to the Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark on Friday (AEST), according to multiple reports.
Parsons then agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay — the largest in NFL history for non-quarterbacks.
In a statement released on his social media accounts, Parsons described it as a “sad day but not a bitter one”, declaring that he “never wanted this chapter to end”.
“But not everything was in my control,” he added.
Parsons and the Cowboys were locked in a stalemate as the 26-year-old pushed for a lucrative multi-year extension, one which Dallas and specifically owner Jerry Jones was not willing to pay.
Parsons made his frustrations incredibly public in the team’s final preseason game, lying on a medical table on the sideline.
“Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters on a conference call Sunday.
“So, until I talk to him, I’m obviously not going to talk about it.”
The Cowboys play the Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 4 of the upcoming season, which begins next Friday.
MICAH PARSONS’ FULL STATEMENT:
“Cowboys Nation,” Parsons opened.
“Growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I was one of the few kids in my neighborhood who cheered for the Dallas Cowboys. Nearly everyone around supported the Eagles, but I always believed in the star. To wear the blue and white at Penn State and then carry those same colors into the NFL as a Cowboy, it was more than a dream, it was destiny.
“From the moment I arrived in Dallas, you embraced me and my family as your own. You made a kid from the east coast feel right at home in Texas. Every time I pulled up to work, every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight and pride of representing you. You didn’t just give me a jersey, you gave me a place to belong.
“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. My heart has always been here, and it still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.
“This is a sad day, but not a bitter one. I’ll never forget the joy of draft night, the adrenaline of running out of the tunnel, or the brotherhood I shared with my teammates, coaches and the staff who prepared me for every single game. Those memories are mine forever.
“North Texas will continue to be my home in the offseason. I’ll still be here, giving back to the community that gave me so much. And no matter where the next chapter takes me, the bond we’ve built will never break.
“Thank you, Cowboys Nation, for every cheer, every moment, and every ounce of love you showed me. Wearing the star has been the honor of my life.
With gratitude and love, #11.”
MORE TO COME…
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