Cowboys LB Micah Parsons skipped OTAs 'as a time for my body to heal'

Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons exercised his right to skip voluntary organized team activities this offseason. Last week, Mike McCarthy called it a missed opportunity for Parsons to get immersed in Mike Zimmer’s new defense.

Parsons, who is in pursuit of a new contract, attended the compulsory minicamp this week. He justified his choice to train individually and give his body a break.

“Yeah, you know, I think the more years you have, the more you understand that there’s also like the business side to it,” Parsons said, via NFL Network’s Jane Slater. “You know, and I think that’s what camp is for. I mean, there was a time where Aaron Donald didn’t even go to camp and he won Defensive Player of the Year and then went to the playoffs. Like, are we forgetting these times? Like we wasn’t talking about the best defensive player wasn’t even in camp. And we’re in minicamps. Voluntary at that. So you know, (mini)camp was something that is mandatory. So, I’m just looking at it as a time for my body to heal. I’m playing as an undersized rusher who is banged up every year. So I’m just letting my body heal. I’m just trying to grow, strengthen, and really just get ready for the year.”

Parsons is correct that Donald famously sat out the 2017 offseason program and held out into training camp in search of a massive contract. Donald would go on to win back-to-back AP Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.

The thrice Pro Bowler emphasized that he has ample time to get up to speed during the July training camp.

“You ever watch Remember the Titans? We’re gonna be in Oxnard a very, very long time,” he said. “There’s gonna be a lot of chemistry on that field. And I think that’s really the time where you see everything. Like it’s hard to really teach someone without pads or true contact or hand points. Like it’s just not realistic. We can’t even touch someone or we’re gonna lose a draft paper or something like that. Like it’s just, it’s outrageous, and I haven’t really, I think right now it’s just more technique. It’s a lot of walkthroughs right now. So for my position … where I’m at, it’s a lot of individual, and I can do a lot individually by myself or with my trainer.”

Parsons is completely right in saying that a dedicated star player missing voluntary workouts shouldn’t be an issue. No one is concerned about Parsons losing his fitness or competitive edge. The situation varies for a quarterback whose absence would alter the way the offense practices, compared to a defensive player attending voluntary workouts.

McCarthy appeared to be more concerned about the Cowboys implementing a new defense, but Parsons didn’t seem overly worried about this aspect. He mentioned that he has “pretty much caught up on everything” and has been communicating with run game coordinator Paul Guenther. However, the star admitted he hasn’t had a real conversation with Zimmer yet.

“Truthfully, Zim and I have probably only exchanged about 20 words,” Parsons admitted. “He’s very reserved. All I keep hearing from the coaches is, ‘Zim prefers things this way.’ Well, I have my preferences too. I’m eager to have a sit-down with him, that would be really great. Clearly, he has an old-school approach and mindset. He’s worked with many talented players, but he’s never had someone like Micah before.”

Clearly, there are things I need to adjust to as well. It’s evident that our relationship will require compromise.

Underscoring the entire situation is the fact that Parsons is in line for a massive contract extension — as are CeeDee Lamb, who is skipping minicamp, and Dak Prescott — but the linebacker insisted he’s not worried about that.

“One day. Time will tell. I can’t really put a timetable on it. All I gotta do is keep getting sacks,” he said, noting he expects to reset the market when he signs.