In the high-stakes poker game of NFL contracts, Jerry Jones has always played his cards close. But Micah Parsons’ contract negotiations are testing the Cowboys’ owner’s legendary bravado. Picture a Texas Hold’em showdown where the stakes are higher than a Friday Night Lights rivalry—$200 million higher. Parsons, the Cowboys’ defensive dynamo, isn’t just betting on his future.
He’s doubling down on loyalty to his agent, David Mulugheta, while Jones shuffles the deck with old-school tactics. The tension? Thicker than a Texas summer. The drama exploded when Jones shrugged off Mulugheta’s role, claiming he didn’t “know his name” during March’s league meetings.
The Cowboys reportedly offered a historic deal—$200 million over five years—to make Parsons the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB. But Jones’ refusal to engage Mulugheta, who reps stars like C.J. Stroud and Jalen Ramsey, has stalled talks. ESPN’s Dan Orvlovsky warned, “won’t go well for Jerry lol. Mulugheta is as good as it gets in that business lol.”
Cowboys Pass Rusher’s Loyalty Fuels Tension in Contract Talks
Parsons Showdown Over Dollars and Respect
Jerry Jones kicked off the drama at the NFL owners’ meetings, dismissing Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, with a shrug: “I don’t know his name. And so my point is, I’m not trying to demean him in any way, but this isn’t about an agent.” Parsons fired back on X:
“Facts!! David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without @DavidMulugheta involved! Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract negotiation.”
The Cowboys’ offer—reportedly aiming to make Micah Parsons’ contract the highest among non-QB in NFL history (topping Myles Garrett’s $160M deal)—is tangled in a power play. Jones wants to negotiate directly; Parsons insists on his agent’s seat at the table. But this isn’t Jones’ first rodeo.
Facts!! David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without @DavidMulugheta involved! Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract… https://t.co/nxKNSIXLvt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) April 1, 2025
He’s cut deals with legends like Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders without agents. But Parsons isn’t budging. With 52.5 sacks in four seasons, he’s the Cowboys’ defensive cornerstone—and he knows it. “I hired experts for a reason,” he wrote. The standoff? A clash of old-school grit and new-school savvy. Meanwhile, Demarcus Lawrence’s exit to Seattle hangs over Dallas like a Texas thundercloud.
The Lawrence Factor: A Lingering Shadow
After 11 seasons, Lawrence dropped a parting shot: “Dallas is my home… but I know for sure I’m not gonna win a Super Bowl there.” Parsons clapped back, calling it “clown shit.” Parsons wrote, “This is what rejection and envy look like! This some clown sh-t.” But the dig stung. It stings more so now because Parsons is having a public debate with the franchise’s owner he defended less than a month ago. Besides, Lawrence’s departure strips the defense of a veteran leader, amplifying pressure on Parsons to fill the void—both on the field and in the locker room.
Demarcus Lawrence’s critique—“Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn’t have left”—added fuel to the fire. Parsons, who’s never missed a Pro Bowl, retorted: “I think it’s ridiculous. You watch the tape. There’s no question I’m locked in. I’m giving my actual best effort out there on the field, which I think that’s all that matters.” However, the feud underscores a broader truth…
Dallas’s playoff droughts since 1995 weigh heavily, and every contract stalemate feels like a step backward. Lawrence’s shadow adds pressure. His critique of Dallas’s culture fuels Parsons’s resolve to prove that loyalty matters. But in the NFL, cash talks louder than camaraderie. As Jones drags his feet, rivals like Seattle circle like vultures. The finale?
Micah Parsons holds the leverage. At 25, he’s a generational talent entering his prime. Jerry Jones can’t afford to lose him but won’t surrender control. It’s a gridlock only Jerry’s checkbook can break. As Mickey Duff once said, “You want loyalty? Buy a dog.” In Dallas, loyalty’s price just hit $200 million.
Main Photo: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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