Report: Tension between Micah Parsons, Cowboys intensifying over contract

Star pass rusher Micah Parsons is considering requesting a trade from the Dallas Cowboys or even "severing his relationship with the team" over his prolonged contract standoff, The Athletic reported Friday.

Parsons, 26, is at training camp with the team but not taking part in on-field activities. He is entering his fifth season in the NFL, and the Cowboys picked up his $24 million option but have yet to sign him to an extension that undoubtedly would put him among the league's high-paid defensive players.

The Cowboys and the two-time All-Pro are not currently negotiating, with their contract numbers "far apart," per The Athletic.

Parsons, selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was the defensive rookie of the year that season.

Per The Athletic, Parsons and team owner Jerry Jones talked directly in the spring, and the Cowboys believe their conversations were negotiations with a deal for an extension in place. The Parsons' camp instead portrayed the meetings as just talks and not negotiations, and that the Cowboys have declined to negotiate with his agent because team officials believed an agreement already was in place.

Defensive end Myles Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns, and Maxx Crosby inked a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders this year. A Parsons extension likely would be in the same ballpark -- or more.

Speaking in April at the NFL's annual league meeting, Jones acknowledged his conversation with Parsons, saying the two spoke for "five or six hours" to work out a long-term extension.

"Most of the issues we are in agreement on. We discussed it all," Jones said April 1. "But we obviously don't have an agreement relative to the new contract."

The Dallas Morning News reported in March that Parsons was seeking a record-setting $200 million contract extension that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Parsons recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season.

A Pro Bowl selection in each of his first four seasons in the league, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 career games (all starts).

--Field Level Media