ARLINGTON, Texas — Micah Parsons finally got a sack for the Green Bay Packers against his former mentor in overtime, but nobody won in the star rusher’s return to Dallas on Sunday night.
The Cowboys had to settle for a short field goal on the opening possession in overtime, that kick coming two plays after Parsons tackled a scrambling Dak Prescott from behind at the 4 — on a play for no gain that went as a sack.
“I’m supposed to make that play,” Parsons said after the much-hyped reunion. “That’s the reason why I’m here.”
After that, the Packers got a field goal of their own at the end of the extra 10-minute period for a 40-40 tie, the NFL’s first deadlock since 2022.
Parsons’ return came came exactly a month after the Cowboys unloaded him in a blockbuster trade that ended a long and acrimonious stalemate through training camp and the preseason over a contract extension.
“All in all, the emotions for me being in Dallas went away the moment they traded me,” Parsons said. “I didn’t even get to talk to my owner (Jerry Jones), the person that drafted me. I found out through my agent. … So to me, that emotion side was pointless, because the same way he called me in his office as a man, he couldn’t tell me as a man. So to me that that emotion side was gone. It was more about a respect factor at this point.”
Parsons finished with that sack, two assisted tackles and three quarterback hurries.
The trade to Green Bay was contingent upon Parsons agreeing to a $188 million, four-year extension. That $47 million annual average is the highest for a non-quarterback in league history.
Jones had believed he had a deal in place with Parsons at $40.5 million per season, which at the time would have made Parsons the first defensive player to surpass $40 million annually. That came in a conversation between the two, and Jones never engaged Parsons’ agent despite the 2021 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year’s insistence that David Mulugheta be his final negotiator.
Just as Jones said during the week that it wasn’t appropriate for a video tribute of Parsons’ four seasons in Dallas, the owner also said after the game he didn’t feel it was right for them to talk beforehand.
As for if there was any talk on the field between the rusher and the quarterback, Prescott said, “Zero. None at all, until afterward. It was good talks afterward. Staying healthy. Great job. It was fun competing against you.”
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