Cowboys' McCarthy addresses Parsons' surprising comments

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy addresses Micah Parsons' surprising comments

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Nov 11, 2024 4:35 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons seemingly shaded head coach Mike McCarthy Sunday, but the coach claimed there's no beef between him and the star pass-rusher.

The HC is in the final year of his contract, and questions about his job security remain. After a 34-6 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Parsons said McCarthy "can go wherever he wants," and he feels more sympathy for his aging teammates, including 33-year-old guard Zack Martin.

On Monday, McCarthy said he and Parsons discussed his comments.

"When it does create questions for others in the locker room, something that I've always done: Conversation has to happen. So Micah and I had a conversation this morning about it. Handled those things as men should," McCarthy said, per Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports.

"Conversations bring resolution."

McCarthy on Micah’s comments: “When it does create questions for others in the locker room, something that I’ve always done: Conversation has to happen. So Micah & I had a conversation this morning about it. Handled those things as men should.

“Conversations bring resolution.” pic.twitter.com/gpcmtGBOxr
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) November 11, 2024

Despite McCarthy saying he's made amends with Parsons, the pass-rusher's comments could signal the HC is losing the locker room amid a 3-6 start.

After the loss to Philadelphia, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media he wouldn't fire McCarthy before the end of the season. However, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter indicated his future in Dallas is grim.

"There's not a lot of hope in sight, and you got a coach on an expiring contract," Schefter said Monday on the "Pat McAfee Show." "When the head coach is on an expiring contract, it's hard to imagine that [the Cowboys] are all of a sudden going to give him an extension after a season like this."

McCarthy must avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since his first season in Dallas in 2020 to save his job. He probably needs a miracle. As of Monday, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Dallas a 0.9% chance to make the playoffs, the third worst in the NFL.

Cowboys starting QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) is reportedly planning to undergo season-ending surgery, which could make a late postseason run even more improbable for McCarthy and Co.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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