Jerry Jones Says Agent Blocked Cowboys' Deal With Micah Parsons

Jerry Jones says agent blocked Cowboys' deal with Micah Parsons originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he negotiated directly with linebacker Micah Parsons and had reached a verbal agreement on contract length, total value and guarantees.

That deal, Jones said, unraveled when Parsons’ agent stepped in.

Appearing on Cowboys legend Michael Irvin’s YouTube show, Jones said, “We had our agreements on term, amount, guarantees and everything. We were gonna send it over to the agent,” before adding that the agent said, “stick it up our a–.”

Jones also said the agreement would have made Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money. He believes the number written on his check would showcase how much he values Parsons.

“The world would know that I want Micah if they knew what I had offered him, and he knows what I offered him,” Jones said. “The world would know that I want Micah to play on the team and that I respect him for what he can bring to the team.”

Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, has strongly denied Jones’ allegation, telling ESPN’s Ryan Clark that he never used that phrase and calling the story “false.”

Parsons has maintained that the exchange was not a negotiation and that he always wanted his agent involved. While he expressed that to Jones, the Cowboys owner pointed to his history of negotiating directly with players.

“I’ve done most of my negotiating without an agent in the rooms,” Jones said.

He explained that agents aren’t usually involved in any other team-related matters, which are typically handled with “just us.”

At the final training camp practice, Parsons continued his usual sideline appearance. He has cited a back injury as the reason for sitting out drills since the team reported in California last month.

Before the release of the interview, first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday he is confident Parsons will play in the Sept. 4 season opener at Philadelphia, with or without a contract extension.

“I feel good that Micah’s going to be out there against the Philadelphia Eagles,” Schottenheimer said.

Parsons, entering the final year of his rookie deal, is set to make $24 million but is seeking an extension worth more than $40 million per year.

Hours after Jones’s interview with Irvin was released, Parsons removed all Cowboys references from his social media profiles.

Jones and the team have been in the spotlight recently with the release of the Netflix docuseries “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.”

The Cowboys take on the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. CT Friday at AT&T Stadium in their final preseason game.