With just a few days remaining until Dallas Cowboys training camp begins, Micah Parsons isn’t letting his contract wait rattle his focus.
In fact, the wait seems to be adding to the edge rusher’s motivation. That’s what he told reporters during a football camp Tuesday in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“I just work harder. Like, to me, I look at it like if people don’t see your value, you don’t cry and sit down. You just work harder. You got to show people your value,” Parsons said, according to Penn Live’s Nick Farabaugh. “I just think that’s the difference. Like I go, okay, bet, and I just work.”
Parsons is currently awaiting a contract extension in Dallas. A new deal could make him one of the league’s highest-paid defenders.
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He apparently isn’t watching the edge rusher market, which is currently dominated by names like Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson. While Garrett agreed to a new megadeal this offseason, Parsons said the Arlington native’s contract shouldn’t affect how his deal shakes out.
Garrett’s new deal averages $40 million per year and includes $123.5 million in guaranteed money.
Parsons also briefly discussed the impact of agent David Mulugheta on the ongoing negotiations. Mulugheta notably made headlines earlier this offseason when Cowboys owner/GM Jerry Jones said he didn’t know the name of Parsons’ agent.
Parsons seems confident in how Mulugheta and Jones are handling the situation.
“I just stay out of David’s handle on it, you know? And, I mean, to be fair, Jerry’s a businessman. Let him handle his business,” Parsons said.
A Parsons extension has been a major discussion point over the offseason. The edge rusher has remained focused, showing up to team events like mandatory minicamp in June.
Why has he chosen to show up?
“What really drives me is greatness,” Parsons said. “I want to be great, and to be great, you have to show up and do the work.”
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