Cowboys' Jerry Jones addresses Micah Parsons' officiating gripes

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 26, 2023 2:39 PM ET

Cowboys edge-rusher Micah Parsons recently condemned officials, and Dallas owner Jerry Jones claims his complaints are justified.

"There's no question that Micah is having restrictions that, if turned loose, would result in a sack of the quarterback," Jones told KRLD-FM in Dallas on Tuesday.

Per the team website, the two-time first-team All-Pro hasn't drawn a penalty in 38 straight quarters. Parsons vented after Sunday's loss.

"Free me dawg. Whatever I did to the officials, I'm sorry," Parsons wrote on his Instagram story.

Jones added he doesn't think referees are trying to intentionally "limit" him, but he did acknowledge that they've reduced his impact.

"They won't call a holding penalty in a certain range of holding…usually if they don't think the player would've gotten to the quarterback to begin with," he said. "That doesn't work for Parsons because he's about to get there almost all the time. Anything that just limits him should be a hold."

Through his first 10 games, Parsons recorded 10 sacks. However, over the past five games, he has three. During this stretch, the Cowboys are tied for 13th in the league points allowed (111), per StatMuse.

Still, complaining about the officials won't make a huge difference. Per ESPN Analytics, Parsons has a 38 percent pass-rush win rate, the highest in the NFL, so officials might give offensive linemen slack when they block him.

Whether it's using him as a linebacker more or another scheme change, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn must find a way to help Parsons. Dallas needs one of its best defensive players to disrupt offensive game plans in order to make a deep playoff run.

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