How Micah Parsons' Uncle Missed Out on Cowboys 'Moment of a Lifetime'
Everyone's running away from Micah Parsons these days, even his own family.
This curious case of fleeing from Parsons was a mere missed connection, albeit one involving his uncle. Others trying to escape the Dallas Cowboys defender haven't been so lucky: the Pokes' quick start (2-0) has been paced by Parsons, who has already earned four tackles for a loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery over the first couple.
Parsons' antics more or less secured a 30-10 Dallas victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, as he permanently shifted momentum when he forced a fumble from Dalvin Cook and took it the distance for an apparent six points in the middle stages of the third quarter. Had the call stood, it would've served as Parsons' first career NFL touchdown.
The pass rusher seemed distracted in the wake of the score, immediately rushing over to the luxury seating area behind the end zone even as teammates Trevon Diggs and Juanyeh Thomas tried to celebrate with him. Once it became clear that Parsons' intended target wasn't available, he retreated to the Dallas sideline.
Asked about who or what he was looking for in the aftermath, Parsons confirmed that he was trying to make a special delivery, intending to gift the ball to his uncle. Alas for the Parsons clan, free food in AT&T Stadium's owner's suite cost him some special pigskin.
“I had my uncle in a suite, and it was his first game at AT&T," Parsons said. "At that time, he made his way up to the owner's suite to get food and he missed it. He missed out on his game ball.
"So I said, ‘You just missed a moment of a lifetime.’ That’s bad luck on him. I was going to give it to him, and dap him up and get a cool moment with him. But, of course, he missed out on it.”
Though Parsons' first career touchdown was erased by a review, which ruled him down by contact, Dallas earned a field goal on the subsequent offensive drive to go up 24-10. New York ran just two plays in Dallas territory after that and the former was immediately erased by a Parsons sack.
With at least seven games left in Arlington and the Dallas defense firing on all cylinders (outscoring opponents 70-10 over the first two games), Parsons' uncle might have another shot to land a special gift and moment with his nephew, though at least a little patience will be required: the Cowboys hit the road to face the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday's Week 3 action (3:25 p.m. CT, Fox) before returning home to face the New England Patriots.