Micah Parsons calls out teammate: 'Either you will or you won't'

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Micah Parsons calls out Cowboys teammate: 'Either you will or you won't'

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Jul 30, 2024 6:25 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith 26th overall a season ago to be a wrecking-ball type of player in the middle of their defensive line.

But Smith’s rookie season left much to be desired, and if the Dallas defense is going to maintain its foothold inside the top five, it’s going to need Smith to step up in a big way in Year 2.

That's exactly what Cowboys star edge-rusher Micah Parsons recently told reporters regarding his expectations for the 23-year-old lineman.

“It's not what I think he can be, it's what Mazi has to be,” Parsons said, per the Cowboys' official website. “When you get to this business, there is no more of a choice or a can: it's either you will or you won't. They usually try to find someone else to do it if you can't. It's what Mazi has to be. He has to be dominant. He has to be a force. He has to be that guy for us. That's why they drafted him in the first round.”

Parsons was even seen getting in Smith's ear about needing to step it up during the team's first padded practice on Tuesday.

“It’s no more games. I’m gon’ show you. If you sitting on it, you f*cking up.”

- Micah Parsons to Mazi Smith

It’s padded practice = it’s go time. #Cowboys #trainingcamp pic.twitter.com/gNdI4KRPuB
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) July 30, 2024

Smith played 17 games last season but wasn’t very productive. He logged just 13 tackles, eight pressures, five hurries, three tackles for loss and one sack, per Pro Football Focus.

He ranked ninth among defensive linemen in both pressures and ninth in pass-rush win rate, and he served more as a rotational depth player than as a bona-fide difference-maker, which Parsons claims won’t fly in 2024.

“You're not getting drafted in the first round not to be a productive talent, not to be on the sideline,” Parsons continued. “We drafted him to be in the game. That's how much confidence I have. I don't expect Mazi to do anything, it's what Mazi has to do at this point.”

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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