Cowboys' Micah Parsons Reacts to Myles Garrett vs. T.J. Watt DPOY Vote

Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons gracefully accepted defeat in the Defensive Player of the Year Award race, claiming that getting the honor based solely on stats was a "horrible take."

Cleveland rocks, so claims Micah Parsons.

The Dallas Cowboys defender fell short in the Defensive Player of the Year Award voting on Thursday night, as the annual NFL Honors instead recognized Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. Bestowing the award to Garrett was viewed as controversial by some critics, including Barstool Sports commentator Jersey Jerry. 

The outspoken Pittsburgh Steelers fan was one of many who felt the award should've instead gone to T.J. Watt, making his claim with a list of statistical categories led by the black-and-yellow defender. That didn't sit well with Parsons, who defended Garrett's claim to the title.

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"Horrible take!! Myles was the better player!!" Parsons said to Jersey Jerry's X post that claimed the vote was a "rig job." "(It's the) reality of the situation! Myles Faced way more double teams and (affected) qbs! Fans please stop looking at stats and look at film please!!"

Despite a career-best 14-sack season going unnoticed, Parsons was not trying to draw a roughing the voters penalty, reiterating that the group got it right by bestowing the title to Garrett, the first Clevelander to win it since it was introduced in 1971. Parsons later respectfully fought back against the idea he was underselling his own abilities by sticking up for Parsons, a claim put forth by USA Today's Doug Farrar.

"Nah respectfully I feel like I had a great year," Parsons said. "But I’m not a sore loser either I just gotta work harder!! [sic]" 

Myles Garrett Beats Micah Parsons as Defensive Player of the Year

Parsons placed third in Thursday's vote after runner-up finishes to Watt (2021) and Nick Bosa (2022). Despite the lack of Defensive Player of the Year Award, Parsons was bestowed All-Pro and Pro Bowl Games invites for the third consecutive season.