Micah Parsons hasn’t done much on the football field this month, which raised some eyebrows when he was spotted lying on a training table on the sideline during the Cowboys preseason game against the Falcons on Friday.
Parsons has not practiced at all during training camp amid a contract dispute with Dallas. The edge rusher, however, said he would “never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives,” claiming the viral photo of him was taken out of context.
The hold-in Parsons is engaged in has taken a number of interesting turns. He has requested a trade and fired plenty of shots in the media at team owner Jerry Jones and the rest of Cowboys management, who haven’t backed down, either.
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The training-table photo surfaces at the same time as news of Parsons reportedly turning down a contract that would have made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Here’s a look at what happened with Parsons on Friday and his response.Ā
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Micah Parsons training table photo and response
Parsons was spotted lying on the training table during the second half of the Cowboys preseason game against the Falcons on Friday. He appeared to be resting and unengaged in the contest. Parsons has not played in any of Dallas’ preseason games this year amid his contract dispute.
Micah Parsons was seen sleeping during the Cowboys’ final preseason game š¬ pic.twitter.com/31DNYLhB3O
ā Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 23, 2025
There was plenty of negative backlash to the photo on social media, but Mike Leslie of WFAA tried to clarify that Parsons was not lying on the training table the entire night. Parsons retweeted Leslie and said he wouldĀ “never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives.”
I actually appreciate this šš¾. The way media shapes perception and narratives is wildāand if he hadnāt said anything, everyone wouldāve just run with it. Iād never disrespect the guys out there fighting for their lives. https://t.co/pMjSZi8DqY
ā Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 23, 2025
MORE:Ā Jerry Jones reveals shocking Micah Parsons contract offer amid hold-in
Micah Parsons contract dispute, explained
The photo of Parsons adds even more fuel to his contract dispute, which began when he arrived at training camp in late July demanding a new deal. The Cowboys best defensive player and a top-five NFL sacks leader since 2021 is set to become an unrestricted free agent after 2025.
Things didn’t start off well for either side, with executive vice president Stephen Jones saying, “We want to pay Micah, too. Heās gotta want to be paid,”Ā per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.Ā
Cowboys fans made their displeasure with ownership’s handling of the situation known during a team event on July 26, when they began chanting “Pay Micah” at Jerry Jones.Ā It was a refrain similar to the one fans chanted when CeeDee Lamb was negotiating a long-term extension with the Cowboys last year. “Really, I don’t have anything to comment there at all,” Jerry Jones said. “Just no comment.”
Fans yell āPay Micah!ā as Jerry Jones addresses the crowd pic.twitter.com/PmKFTua9J7
ā Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 26, 2025
Parsons formally requested a trade on Aug. 1, and a couple of weeks later, Jerry Jones tried to swat down those rumors on the Stephen A. Smith show. He also said on Michael Irvin’s YouTube channel that the Cowboys offered Parsons a contract that would have made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league (in terms of guaranteed money) earlier this year.
MORE:Ā Micah Parsons contract dispute, explained: Comments from Jerry Jones raise eyebrows
