'What Rookie Wall'? Should Cowboys' Micah Parsons Be NFL Player of the Year?

"People always talk about 'the rookie wall,' but I just keep climbing and climbing because I'm excited to see what's on the other side of that wall," Micah says.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has heard about "the rookie wall.''

"People always talk about 'the rookie wall,' but I just keep climbing and climbing because I'm excited to see what's on the other side of that wall," he said.

Parsons, though, isn't just climbing the wall. He's running around it. And through it.

Parsons broke out in the month of November, recording 6.5 sacks in four games - tied for the second-most sacks in a single month in Cowboys history.

It’s that stellar November performance, including 12 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 25 tackles that has earned Parsons NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month. ... and that we can argue put him in the conversation for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

While Parsons' play has been a pleasant surprise to some, the former Penn State star predicted a "scary" season under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn back in April when the Cowboys selected him No. 12 overall.

"I've been wanting to be a Cowboy," Parsons said. "I've been playing football off of raw potential and instincts. When I get under a person like (Dallas coordinator) Dan Quinn, I'm going to have a great opportunity to get even better and I think that's what's the scary part. I (haven't) even touched my ceiling yet."

The Cowboys rookie is the favorite (-700) to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2021-22. Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who the Cowboys may have drafted if available at the No. 12 pick, is behind Parsons with the second best odds (-800).

A couple impressive milestones for Parsons already this season:

-Parsons has nine sacks, which tops DeMarcus Ware (eight) for the most by a Cowboys rookie since sacks became official in 1982.

-Parsons’ nine sacks are also the most among rookies in 2021 and 10th among all NFL defenders.

- Parsons has two multi-sack games this season, which is tied with Jimmie Jones and Russell Maryland for the most multi-sack games by a Cowboys rookie.

If Parsons keeps up his November pace into December, his frontrunner status as Defensive Rookie of the Year will only solidify. Next up, a Thursday night chance to beat the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome to end a two-game Dallas losing streak … and a chance for Parsons to be “scary” in December.

And maybe to win even bigger rewards after that.

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