Christian McCaffrey is 'Dr Pepper'? Micah Parsons Reveals Fumble Key for Dallas Cowboys at 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has a lot of respect for San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and used an interesting phrase to describe his skillset: 'Dr Pepper mode.'

On Sunday in Santa Clara, the Dallas Cowboys will be playing in what is their biggest test of this young NFL season against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. ... and "Dr Pepper'' apparently has something to do with it.

The buzz surrounding this game has been astronomical over the last week or so, as this matchup is a battle of two of the best teams in the NFL. It also happens to be one of the league's oldest and most intense rivalries over the years. 

Micah, McCaffrey & Dr Pepper

As part of the buildup, Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is offering high praise for star running back Christian McCaffrey. He raved about his versatility as someone who could play multiple positions.

“I think he’s the most versatile back in the NFL when it comes to how the 49ers use him," Parsons said. "You can almost say he’s a running back who plays receiver or a receiver who plays running back. The way he gets open, the way you can’t just put anyone on him.

He also had a notable way of describing McCaffrey's ball-security method.

"And you know Christian, he’s always mindful of the ball. He’s always high and tight. He’s always in Dr Pepper mode,'' said Parsons.

Parsons explained "Dr Pepper mode'' as being when a ball carrier places two fingers on the football to better protect the ball in traffic. ... but he didn't know what it meant beyond that, just that coaches use the phrase.

A theory: the old Dr Pepper logo featured clock-face numbers, including the "10'' and the "2'' ... which might be where a ball-carrier would place his fingers around the tip of a football?

In any event, McCaffrey is clearly quite efficient when it comes to "Dr. Pepper mode" as he has just six career fumbles since 2017, and hasn't lost a fumble since 2018. Parsons and the Cowboys will nevertheless go after the ball, after those fingers, and after a breakup of "Dr Pepper mode'' in Northern California.