OXNARD, Calif. — Believe it or not, but the Dallas Cowboys are already entering the fourth year of enjoying Micah Parsons being on the roster, a former first-round pick in 2021 turned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Pro pass rusher thanks to his 40.5 sacks in his first 50 starts — third-most in NFL history to begin a career.
But he understands it's not simply about being great during the regular season, because legends and Hall of Famers are made in the postseason and, to that end, Parsons is being put in the hands of newly-returned defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to finish unlocking The Lion.
With two padded practices now in the rearview mirror and a third set to get underway on Friday, Parsons took to the podium to give more information on several points, including what many are wondering in the post-Dan Quinn era:
How will Parsons be deployed in 2024?
He answered that and much more, including the return of (and relationship with) Trevon Diggs and if the loss of Sam Williams to a torn ACL will change what Zimmer has up his sleeve for Parsons; and below are the highlights from his heartfelt and in-depth Q&A with the media on Thursday.
On the return of Trevon Diggs:
"Me and Trevon, that's my right-hand man. We went on vacation together. We go on brother voyages and workouts together. I was there for him through the good and the bad and even his brother told me, 'Yo, Tre really loves you.' And he doesn't really love too many people. … He loves life to the fullest [though] and I envy that. He's always smiling. His life is football.
" … But that [injury] was the first time I've ever seen him down. I just wanted to be [there for him]. … I think I gave him that drive to wanting to get back to playing with me — keeping him competitive. … It made me cry when I lost him last year. He's someone that I hope we can retire [here] together and get gold jackets together, and we can go on kids' vacations one day because now he's got about as many kids as me.
"It's going to be good. He has no choice. We're in this for the long run."
Mike Zimmer's plan for him in 2024:
"I think it's gonna be a very interesting year. What I'm gonna be doing is a whole bunch of stuff — dropping in the flats, curls, it's really everything. They're expanding my versatility and using me in ways I should be used, and moving me around to make [offenses] ID me from other places; and [sending] me when they should send me. He's gonna utilize every asset of my ability and that's something I appreciate.
"That's the plan, so I focused on trying to be in better shape and trying to be better now knowing what the standard is and what he's gonna have me doing. I really like it a lot and it's gonna be a really good year for me. They're moving me around and bringing pressure from other places."
Does the loss of Sam Williams alter that plan?
"It doesn't change my plan at all. It means Marshawn and more young guys have to step up, and whoever we bring in. It may mean I have to do more. The loss of Sam was so huge. That's really like my brother. It really hurts. Those times where I might get a break or a substitution, I might have to stay on for a couple more plays, depending on the situation.
"It really ramps up with conditioning and what phase we have to be in for these games. It puts more on [DeMarcus Lawrence also. He's an 11-year vet and there's no more Dorance Armstrong or Dante Fowler … so he'll step up, too."
On his outlook on football and the 2024 season:
"This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you play hurt. You play tired. You go through all of those emotions — because you love this game — and you only get 17 days out of 365 to show why you're the best. I only got 17 chances, guaranteed, not including the playoffs, to show we're the best and why we belong here and why I hope Jerry [Jones] keeps me here. It's like art. Imagine you're an artist and someone shows up to your gallery and says, 'Your art sucks.'
"You're like, 'Damn, I put so much time into this. I really thought about this.' That's how I feel about football. This is my art. Pass rushing is an art. It's so much mental that goes into it. … It's not just a game."
