Micah Parsons contract dispute: Troy Aikman reveals the leverage Cowboys star has: ‘They can’t win without him’

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys remain at odds with one another through his contract dispute and, with that, his trade request. However, with sway on both sides, there’s one thing that Parsons may have that Dallas has to give into in the end.

On ‘Monday Night Football’ last night, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck discussed Parsons’ dispute late in the fourth quarter during the Bengals’ win over the Commanders. The face of the matter to Aikman was, while he may not have much leverage, Parsons has the only leverage he needs to being the difference in how good that Dallas is this season.

“You can’t be (great without Micah Parsons),” said Aikman. “That’s his leverage. His leverage is they can’t win without him.”

That’s not to say that the Cowboys won’t win any games at all if they don’t get a deal done with Parsons, as Aikman and Buck were both fairly high on what this season could be for Dallas. Still, there’s no denying the effect felt from the absence of one of the best players in the NFL.

“I do think the Cowboys are going to be better than what a lot of people project. I saw something where, you know, the pundits think that the over-under is 7.5 wins on the Cowboys. I think they’re going to be much better than that. I think they’ve got a chance. You know, I think, I like what Brian Schottenheimer has shown in training camp and going into the year. And they’ve got some things that I like about the team in general,” said Aikman. “But, without Micah Parsons, I just don’t think they’re going to be able to slow anybody down.”

“I think Brian Schottenheimer is going to do really well as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys,” Buck later added. “But, to go back to what they would do on defense without Micah Parsons? I mean, that is a gigantic hole that nobody can fill.”

Parsons has been a multiple-time selection as an All-Pro, being a Pro Bowler in each year, and a candidate as an MVP already through just four years in the National Football League. That’s with an average stat-line per season of 64 tackles, 15.8 being for loss, with 13.1 sacks and 2.3 forced fumbles.

Parsons has proven himself already as a player that deserves to be paid, and paid at the top-end of the entire league. That leaves it to Jerry Jones to decide how he wants to continue to go about this as Cowboys’ management still has yet to pay him at all with a new deal.

“I mean, he’s a total game-wrecker and he has proven that. And he’s certainly worth every penny that he’s ultimately going to get paid. The longer it goes, the more money he’s going to make, so I wouldn’t stress too much if I was him. But, that essentially is the only leverage” said Aikman. “Now, what are the Cowboys going to do? You think I know the answer to that? I don’t think anybody knows what Jerry (Jones) is ever gonna do.”

“Jerry has shown that he’ll pay top dollar. So, you know, this obviously could have been done sooner at a lower price,” Aikman said. “But, the longer they wait? Like I said, the price just continues to go up for Micah Parsons.”

If it continues to go poorly, though, Aikman can only imagine what Dallas would get in return if they did trade Parsons. That’s with the rest of the NFL likely lining up to make a deal for one of the best players in the entire sport.

“What could they get for him if they were to trade for him? That’s hard to imagine what they might be able to get for him,” noted Aikman. “I mean, he is a generational talent and, like I said, he’s a total game-wrecker and he’s proven that.”

That said, as is the general expectation, Aikman does think that Dallas eventually gets a deal done with Parsons. Regardless of how much it’s going to cost them in the end, the Cowboys just may not be able to afford to not have him on the field at all.

“They’ll get something done, is what I expect. I’d be shocked if they don’t prior to the season,” said Aikman. “But, I don’t know what leverage he has other than the fact that they, in my opinion, won’t be very good without him.”