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Dak Prescott knows exactly what Micah Parsons is going through right now. It wasn’t long ago that Prescott himself was battling for a massive contract extension while Jerry Jones played hardball. Now with the season opener against Philadelphia just days away, Jones finds himself in familiar territory. Will he keep the Parsons contract drama going for the headlines, or will he finally pay his defensive star before kickoff? Prescott isn’t sweating it at all.
“I’ve got confidence,” Prescott told reporters Monday. “I’ve told ya’ll that way back when. And I’m just going off experience, honestly. No different than mine. I’ve got confidence in that. Just hoping, which I know he is, he’s ready to play.”
The similarities between these situations are striking. Like Prescott in September 2024, Parsons has all the leverage here. Every day Jones delays, the price tag for his star pass rusher climbs higher – whether that contract gets signed in Dallas or somewhere else.
Cowboys Contract Drama: A Dallas Tradition
This whole standoff feels like business as usual in Dallas. Parsons has played his cards well – requesting a trade, hinting at playing elsewhere, and skipping training camp. It’s almost identical to Prescott’s playbook before the Browns opener last season. Eventually, Jones will stop the public theater and get down to real negotiations.
Prescott has seen this movie before.
“There’s been a case of something similar to this the last three years, I believe, if not before,” he explained. “I think people can take it however they want. It’s kind of part of the way guys think and see things around here…When you’re here in this organization, this is just how things are done, whether they’re right, wrong or whoever has their view about them. But what I think that does help is allow us just to stay focused on our jobs and understanding that us putting energy towards any of that doesn’t help.”
Jerry’s Game: Why Jones Loves the Drama
Jones isn’t just an owner – he’s a showman who thrives on attention. While he talks about wanting championships over profits, his flair for drama has helped make the Cowboys the most valuable franchise in the NFL. The oil salesman’s son bought his favorite team and turned it into a global brand. That’s a success story everyone can appreciate – even players who’ve been through his negotiating wringer.
There’s still a chance Parsons sits out against the Eagles in Week 1. If that happens, both Jones and Prescott have completely misread the situation. But cornerback Trevon Diggs – one of Parsons’ closest friends on the team – seems confident #11 will be suited up and ready.
“I’ve heard him say before, he plays the game for us,” Diggs shared. “We go out there sweating, blood, sweat and tears, we work out together, training together. It’s really him being with us at the end of the day. I know for sure he wants to be out there with us and helping this team win. This is home. This is his family. So why wouldn’t he want to be here?”
As Prescott pointed out earlier this offseason – these Cowboys contract dramas tend to work themselves out in the end. The real question is whether that resolution comes before Dallas has to face their bitter NFC East rivals in the season opener.
