Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons showed up for voluntary workouts Monday despite the lack of a contract extension.
The All-Pro pass rusher is said to be seeking a $200 million deal that would set an NFL record for a non-quarterback.
His presence Monday for the start of voluntary OTAs at The Star in Frisco, Texas, at least temporarily paused any fears of a holdout in Cowboys country.
Parsons, 25, recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season.
A Pro Bowl selection in each of his first four seasons in the league, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 career games (all starts).
Without a new deal this offseason, Parsons is in line to earn approximately $24 million on the fifth year of his rookie contract in 2025.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said earlier this month that the two sides are in agreement on “most of the issues.”
Back in December, Parsons discussed the importance of attending workouts, minicamps and training camp.
“I’ve got to be around the guys,” he said. “There’s going to be rookies, there’s going to be free agents — guys that come here — you don’t know who’s going to be there, so there’s a chemistry part and people know what you can do, but people also got to see it from a leader aspect. So I still gotta be there for that part.”
The Cowboys also have a new head coach in Brian Schottenheimer and a new defensive coordinator in Matt Eberflus.
“I definitely think I need to be here in camp because, honestly, when so much of the defense is surrounded by your play and your presence, and others are getting lined up based off of you, I need to be here so that way I can get these guys accordingly,” Parsons said in December. “We can rush together, build that chemistry.
“So I think it’s of extreme importance that I’m back at OTAs, minicamp (etc.).”
–Field Level Media
