Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons has not yet participated in voluntary offseason workouts as he awaits a contract extension from the team. And Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy appears to be none too happy about it.
After defensive coordinator Dan Quinn left the team in favor of a head coaching opportunity with the Washington Commanders. So the returning defensive players on the Cowboys will have to learn a new defensive scheme with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer coming to town.
When learning a new scheme, the more reps you can get in the offseason, the better. And naturally, Parsons’ absence at OTAs thus far means that he will be behind the eight-ball when it comes to the team’s new scheme.
McCarthy spoke on Parsons’ absence, calling it a “missed opportunity to improve” as a team.
“I think any time that you have a chance to be together, it’s an opportunity to improve,” McCarthy said, via the team’s website. “Whether it’s in the mental realm, the physical realm and the emotional connection and so forth. It’s a long year. Training camp is really the heightened focus for all of that, but it’s definitely an opportunity that’s been missed (for Parsons).”
It’s a bit of a passive-aggressive comment from McCarthy towards Parsons. And you have to feel as if it is a bit of a slap in the face if you are Parsons.
If any player is worthy of the contract extension he is seeking, it is someone like Parsons, who recorded a career-high 14 sacks last season.
Sure, it would be great if Parsons were participating in offseason activities. But someone with extreme athletic capabilities like Parsons should have no trouble picking up the playbook quickly whenever he does return to practice for the Cowboys.
