Cowboys trade Micah Parsons traded to Packers, signs record extension

Micah Parsons is no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

The star linebacker has been traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks, the teams announced on Thursday.

As part of the blockbuster trade, Parsons will sign a four-year, $188 million contract with $136 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.

Parsons — boasting a resume that includes Defensive Rookie of the Year, two All-Pro first-team nods and four Pro Bowl appearances in four seasons — was set to enter the fifth-year option of his rookie deal that would've paid him $24 million.

He'll now be earning $47 million per year on his new contract, making Parsons the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.

The 26-year-old had been eyeing a contract extension with Dallas for some time, but the crux of a months-long disagreement between the player and team stemmed over the specific nature of talks with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during the spring that Parsons did not consider formal negotiations. Jones disagreed, believing they had come together on a deal.

Parsons wrote in an Aug. 1 statement that the Cowboys refused to engage his agent David Mulugheta in the process, which, along with remarks by Jones during a July 21 press conference, contributed to his decision to publicly request a trade leading into Thursday's blockbuster deal.

Parsons finished fifth in the league in sacks last season with 12, a half-sack more than Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, who signed a three-year $123-million extension in July to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

Multiple Cowboys players had posted their support for Parsons on social media, with star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb writing, “Just pay the man.” Fans shouted their support for Parsons when Jones walked on the field midway through practice, and there was a sustained chant of “Let's pay Micah!” at the end of Saturday's workout.

Parsons now gets set to join a Packers team that went 11-6 last season but finished third in a loaded NFC North Division before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round.

It won't be long until the former franchise star takes on his old team as Parsons and the Packers will visit the Cowboys for Sunday Night Football (Sept. 28) in Week 4.

Click here to read article