Former Cowboys Star Dez Bryant Backs Dak Prescott as Micah Parsons Contract Controversy Grows

The tension inside the Dallas Cowboys camp continues to build as contract talks surrounding All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons remain unresolved. While head coach Brian Schottenheimer begins his first season at the helm, the drama around the team’s top defensive talent is beginning to overshadow preparations for the 2025 season.

Now, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has spoken out in defense of Parsons — and former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has publicly backed him up.

Jerry Jones Draws More Criticism

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, 82, has long been known for his involvement in player negotiations. But his recent comments regarding Parsons are being seen as both out of touch and disrespectful.

In an attempt to praise Parsons’ business savvy, Jones said:

“Of all players that I’ve ever negotiated with, Michael Parson is savvy and knowledgeable and understanding of his financial business relative to football as any player as I’ve ever been around.”

Calling him “Michael Parson” — rather than Micah Parsons — may have been a simple slip, but it did little to ease the growing frustration around the situation, especially considering Parsons’ importance to the team.

Dak Prescott Defends His Teammate

Quarterback Dak Prescott, a respected leader in the locker room, addressed the situation directly during a recent media appearance. He expressed empathy for Parsons and shed light on the repetitive nature of contract delays in Dallas.

“It’s an every-year conversation,” Prescott said. “Whether it’s myself, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb, now Micah Parsons. It’s a part of it. Is it something that I wish any of us were going through? Absolutely not.”

Prescott praised Parsons for staying involved with the team despite the ongoing contract uncertainty.

“He’s a great teammate — showing up not just on the field, but in the camaraderie, hanging out, dinner. He’s not just doing it to say, ‘Hey Jerry, look at me.’ He wants to be out there. And honestly, I’m glad he’s not. He can’t do that to himself.”

Prescott acknowledged the business side of the league, saying there’s no clear right way to handle a contract standoff, but made his stance clear:

“He deserves to get paid. I think he should get paid. Hopefully, it’s sooner than later.”

Dez Bryant Joins the Conversation

Prescott’s comments didn’t go unnoticed. Former Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant, known for his outspoken support of former teammates and strong opinions, took to social media to show his approval.

“Yea @dak,” Bryant wrote in a quote tweet — a brief but powerful show of solidarity.

Bryant’s endorsement adds weight to the conversation. As a former star who knows what it’s like to deal with Dallas’ front office, his backing signals growing concern among the Cowboys community about how Jones and the franchise are handling Parsons’ situation.

Parsons’ Impact

Since being drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Micah Parsons has become one of the league’s most dominant defenders. He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and has been named first-team All-Pro twice.

Even in a 2024 season where he missed games due to injury for the first time, Parsons still managed 43 combined tackles and 12 sacks in just 13 games — maintaining his streak of recording at least 12 sacks in each of his first three seasons.

What’s Next?

Despite having exercised his fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through 2025, the Cowboys’ delay in securing a long-term deal with Parsons continues to fuel unrest among fans, players, and now former legends.

With chants of “Pay Micah!” ringing out at training camp and growing public pressure, the front office is now at a crossroads. Will they commit to the cornerstone of their defense — or let a familiar pattern of contract drama once again impact team morale?

One thing is clear: Dak Prescott has Micah’s back. And now, so does Dez Bryant.