![\"Micah](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2816dc545e5d5ce44c42a3fad0871a3a.jpeg\"\/)
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Micah Parsons addresses the attendees at his football camp in March.John Oliva – USA TODAY Network<\/p>\n
Last season, Dallas waited until Aug. 27 to sign CeeDee Lamb to an extension. Dak Prescott signed his last extension in September of 2023. If history repeats itself, Parsons isn\u2019t getting a deal before late August. Other players are possibly up for new contracts, like offensive lineman Tyler Smith and cornerback Daron Bland. The potential for a messy training camp is high.<\/p>\n
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The biggest potential for controversy just arrived on a plane from Pittsburgh. Pickens\u2019 contract ends after this season. Will he sit quietly if he doesn\u2019t get enough targets in head coach Brian Schottenheimer\u2019s offense? He\u2019s spoken out against the offensive coaches in Pittsburgh about his usage in the past. That\u2019s when he was the No. 1 receiver. Pickens will have to take a backseat to Lamb in Dallas.<\/p>\n
Schottenheimer grabbed headlines last week by moving Parsons\u2019 locker next to Prescott\u2019s. Does that mean Pickens is now both players\u2019 problem? Parsons doesn\u2019t seem to shy away from leadership duties. But he\u2019s a 25-year-old pass-rusher. All of this seems like a messy situation for a young player who\u2019s trying to take the next step in his own right.<\/p>\n
Even when the Cowboys reached the playoffs three years in a row from 2021-23, they didn\u2019t feel like a cohesive unit. Especially when things went poorly. Hard to imagine adding Pickens, who Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called immature, improving the chemistry.<\/p>\n
Parsons is well aware of the state of the team. Toward the end of last season, Parsons addressed his contract and indicated that money alone isn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n
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“It would just be nice to be surrounded by good players,\u201d said Parsons, via Dallascowboys.com<\/a>. “Players that are going to help you win championships. To me, having $40 million and being chipped every play and slid two with three, four people — I don’t think that sounds too fun.\u201d<\/p>\n To the Cowboys\u2019 credit, they\u2019re trying to get Parsons help. They just re-signed defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. They drafted linebackers\/pass-rushers like Sam Williams, DeMarvion Overshown and Marshawn Kneeland. But those players have suffered serious injuries. Now they\u2019ll see if second-round pick Donovan Ezeiruaku out of Boston College can be an effective bookend for Parsons. If he follows the recent trend, he\u2019ll flash and then unfortunately get hurt.<\/p>\n Parsons\u2019 former pass-rushing partner DeMarcus Lawrence delivered a tough dose of reality when he rationalized leaving Dallas for Seattle. \u201cDallas is my home,\u201d Lawrence told the Seahawks\u2019 website. \u201cI made my home there, my family lives there, I’m forever going to be there. But I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there, so yeah. We here.”<\/p>\n Parsons fired back, prompting Lawrence to write on X, \u201cMaybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn’t have left.\u201d Parsons has an outsized media presence. He was even officially named president of B\/R Gridiron last year. But to judge him as a player by his public persona is a mistake. Lawrence was wrong because Parsons\u2019 energy and effort aren\u2019t affected by anything he does off the field.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Parsons missed four games in the middle of last season with a high ankle sprain. When he returned in Week 10 the Cowboys were basically out of contention. With nothing to play for, Parsons turned up his game to the next level. He had 11 sacks in his last nine games. He finished the season ranked third overall in pressures (46) despite missing a month of action. On a lifeless team, Parsons\u2019 dynamic play stood out.<\/p>\n As significant as Dallas\u2019 challenges were in \u201824, the challenges continue this season. For the second offseason in a row they failed to acquire a true workhorse running back. Their failure to sign Derrick Henry at a bargain rate last offseason is one of the biggest mistakes in franchise history. Their health issues from last year are still lingering \u2013 they reportedly don\u2019t expect to see Overshown and star cornerback Trevon Diggs by the beginning of next season.<\/p>\n The Cowboys\u2019 competition has gotten harder as well. When they were stringing together 12-5 seasons under former head coach Mike McCarthy, the bottom of the NFC East was a mess. Now the Commanders are contenders and the Giants are poised to bounce back to at least mediocrity. Based on last season\u2019s records, Dallas faces the fifth-toughest schedule in the NFL.<\/p>\n Cowboys fans may be taking a victory lap on social media because of the Pickens trade. But even if their new receiver excels, one move can\u2019t erase 30 years of mismanagement. Parsons is about to become very rich. He\u2019ll remain a huge star because of the team\u2019s popularity. That can\u2019t be enough for a player of Parsons\u2019 caliber. Money\u2019s not going to buy a Super Bowl ring. In this case, it\u2019s going to mean typical Cowboys stuff and not enough wins to merit all the drama.<\/p>\n