As of the morning of July 25, there was no indication that the Dallas Cowboys and star pass-rusher Micah Parsons were close to coming to terms on what is expected to be a historic contract extension.
While speaking with reporters at training camp on Thursday, Dallas starting quarterback Dak Prescott addressed the situation.
"I mean it's an each and every year conversation," Prescott said about Dallas players being involved in contract stalemates, as shared by Todd Archer of ESPN.
Just last summer, Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb didn't receive his four-year, $136M deal until late August. Meanwhile, news broke about Prescott's four-year contract extension only hours before Dallas' regular-season opener on Sept. 8.
Parsons reported for training camp earlier in the week but is not participating in team practices as he deals with supposed "back tightness."
"Now, is it something that I wish any of us were going through? Absolutely not, but I think Micah's doing a hell of a job with it being here," Prescott continued. "He's a great teammate, showing up obviously not just on the field and being focused, but whether it be in the camaraderie, hanging out, dinner. He's not just doing it to sign off and say, 'Hey, Jerry, look at me,' but he wants to be out there practicing. And honestly, I'm glad he's not. He can't do that to himself. That's the business of it. That's the business of a holdout, so I do think he's taken some great steps with being here."
Earlier in the month, T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers reset the market for players at the position when he agreed to a three-year, $123M extension that included $108M guaranteed. As Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk pointed out, Parsons almost certainly will become the new highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL whenever he inks his deal.
"I don't know if there's a correct way to handle it, to be honest with you," Prescott added about the Parsons situation. "I will say that I think he deserves to get paid. I think he should get paid, and, ultimately, going off the history of what I've seen, he will get paid. Hopefully, it's sooner than later."
The Cowboys are looking to at least return to the playoffs under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Thus, logic suggests Jones is going to have to pay Parsons at some point before Dallas opens the upcoming season with a matchup at the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.
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