'Worn Thin!' Rumor: Are Dallas Cowboys Tired of Micah Parsons?

The Dallas Cowboys wouldn't be as potent without edge rusher Micah Parsons, but there are whispers of discontent. Would they dare move on from him?

Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Some teams win Super Bowls. Others win offseason championships. The Dallas Cowboys are the kings of taking talent for granted.

Whether it be playing hardball with quarterback Dak Prescott or letting Jimmy Johnson leave the building for egotistical reasons, Dallas has a knack for finding elite talents and cutting bait prematurely.

Next up on its list of relationships to sour may be superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons.

Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

On 105.3 The Fan, Shan Shariff spoke about whispers at The Star and how people in the organization may feel about the team’s best player. 

“I’ve heard from way too many people this offseason,” Shariff said on Friday. “I’m talking about at least four different people (have said) that Micah has worn thin there. I don’t know how much is true and how much it actually hurts (Parsons’ reputation). I don’t know whether this is the behavior of a typical superstar. I don’t (know) how damaging it is. 

“But all I do know is this – I’ve heard from way too many people that if Micah Parsons was out of there, there would be a decent amount of people inside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco smiling or breathing a sigh of relief.”

That certainly isn’t damning evidence that Parsons is on his way out or trying to make that the case, but it’s concerning nonetheless. As the best player – and perhaps the most public – on the most popular and polarizing team in the country, Parsons will perpetually be under scrutiny. Whether that’s deserved is a separate question. 

From his podcast “The Edge” to post game pressers, Parsons is no stranger to the off-the-field spotlight. He’s said his fair share of … suboptimal … comments. But Parsons hasn’t said much more than pundit fodder and feed for trolls of rival fanbases.

It’s possible that he’s done things behind the scenes to rub people the wrong way, or that this is some sloppy negotiation tactic. But it still seems foolish to expect anything less than Parsons to sign a record-setting extension with America’s Team.

Parsons is one of the five best defensive players in the sport and the reason Dallas can count on its pass rush year in and year out. The league just saw the Buffalo Bills hit the breaking point with receiver Stefon Diggs. But would there be a breaking point for Josh Allen? Do the Cleveland Browns have one with Myles Garrett, the Pittsburgh Steelers with T.J. Watt, the San Francisco 49ers with Christian McCaffrey, the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes?

There is a short list of players in this league where – outside of disastrous circumstances in behavior – they will not be moved, regardless of trade compensation or looming extension. Parsons, in all likelihood, is one of them. A few disgruntled staffers shouldn’t be considered a threat to Parsons’ standing in Dallas. Rather - because we believe the report based on Shariff's credibility - those staffers would be better off working toward solutions rather than whispering about problems.