For the third season in a row, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons fell short of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. But Parsons was far from a sore lose and even came to the defense of the winner, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Garrett won his first DPOY award on Thursday during the NFL Honors event, besting runner-ups Parsons and Pittsburgh Steelers standout TJ Watt. Garrett received 21 first-place votes, while Watt and Parsons received 19 and 7, respectively.
Watt didn’t appear too happy about the second-place finish. The Steelers star posted on X about the apparent snub. Parsons, however, was the opposite.
Dallas Cowboys Star Micah Parsons Backs Myles Garrett’s DPOY Win
The Cowboys star came to the defense of Garrett on social media. Parsons responded to a post highlighting several stats that painted the Browns star as the weakest link among the DPOY’s top three. But Parsons argued that stats didn’t tell the whole story with Garrett.
Parsons called Garrett “the better player” among the three and pointed to the film as better evidence to understand why the Browns star deserved the award.
“Horrible take!! Myles was the better player!! Reality of the situation ! Myles Faced way more double teams and affect on qbs! Fans please stop looking at stats and look at film please!!” said Parsons.
Garrett and Parsons finished with 14.0 sacks each, well behind NFL leader Watt’s total of 19.0 sacks. But Parsons pointed to the heavy dose of double teams Garrett has to deal with on a game-to-game basis, which limits statistical output but helps the Browns’ defense overall.
Garrett was unequivocally the heart and soul of a Browns defense that had a legitimate case to being the best in the NFL this past season.
Dallas Cowboys Star Micah Parsons Is Already Thinking About Next Year
Parsons even doubled down on his support of Garrett. The Cowboys star responded to a post claiming that Parsons “undersold his own abilities” in lobbying for his peer.
Instead of responding with any animosity, Parsons clarified that he knows he had a great year but must work harder to deserve the award next season.
“Nah respectfully I feel like I had a great year but I’m not a sore loser either I just gotta work harder!!” wrote Parsons.
With Parsons, fellow DPOY finalist DaRon Bland, and a returning Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys are projected to have a formidable defense once again next season.
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