Micah Parsons has quickly ascended to his place as one of the top defenders in the NFL and one of the most impactful players and leaders of the Dallas Cowboys defense in his first two years as a pro football player.
Even with all the accomplishments and accolades, the two-time All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year, who lands at No.2 in the Pro Football Network’s top 100 rankings for the 2023 season, has his sights set on becoming as great a player as possible.
“The Top 100’s always cool, but if I’m not No.1, it’s pointless,” he said on 105.3 The Fan’s “GBag Nation” on Thursday. “I’ve got to get to number one.”
Parsons entered the league as a linebacker after switching from running back at Penn State. He has since become one of the premier edge rushers in the league, tallying 26.5 sacks in 33 games, yet he is not satisfied.
Earlier this offseason, he met with former All-Pro offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to get opposing feedback and continue to harness his craft.
“I just wanted to dig deep inside the mind of the guy,” Parsons explained. “Tackles, I felt like I struggled against those more athletic, strong, durable tackles and trying to find a weakness where he felt a guy like me could exploit…He kind of broke some things down with me. We watched film together, we hit the field together, and I just got to pick his brain for a couple days, which was pretty awesome.”
“…There’s a lot of good feedback when you go across the room because d-linemen can only tell you what they do and what they see…When you have a guy who’s a little different, I want to know, ‘What’s their plan for me? How would you slow me down?’ Things like that to increase my process.”
Parsons will once again play a crucial role on the Cowboys’ defense as the team enters the season with high expectations, which he believes are perfectly warranted.
“I think we are the top team in the NFC,” he told the show. “No one can be you except when you beat yourself. You look at our game last year [against San Francisco], that’s a game we could’ve won, but we beat ourselves with mistakes and things like that. I think we are the number one team when you talk about numbers, experience, and the guys we got back.”
“I think we’re the only team that gained players,” he added. “We didn’t lose a Javon Hargrave then draft somebody. We have everybody across the board, so you talk about years of playing together and years of experience. I think we’re up there to be the better team.”
The Cowboys have the third-best odds to win the NFC and represent the conference in the Super Bowl, which Parsons believes would put him on par with some of the all-time greats.
“I would break down in tears,” he remarked. “When you talk about legacy and you talk about leaving a print and a foundation in the organization, I think that’s the most [sic] one. You bring a DROY home, you bring a Defensive Player of the Year home, that leaves a ‘He was a very good player with the organization,’ but you win a Super Bowl with an organization, it’s like, ‘Man, that’s a guy you remember forever.’ ”
“That’s why you guys constantly talk about Aikman, and guys are talking about Michael Irvin,” he continued. “Those guys were [playing] decades ago, but their names still ring bells when you talk about success and winning, and I want my name in the conversation.”
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EXTRA POINTS
— All-Pro guard Zack Martin is currently holding out over a contract dispute but recently texted the rest of the offensive line that he will “be there soon,” according to left tackle Tyron Smith.
— Young wide receivers have been impressing Cowboys coaches in camp.
— Quarterback Dak Prescott is adjusting to becoming one of the older players on the team as he approaches his 30th birthday.
— Washington Commanders’ second-year running back Brian Robinson feels a huge difference entering the season after getting shot at the beginning of his rookie year.
— Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey underwent surgery on his meniscus on Friday after colliding with a teammate in Thursday’s practice. He is expected to return at some point this season.
— The Seattle Seahawks signed fifth overall draft pick Devon Witherspoon to his rookie contract on Friday. Witherspoon was the last remaining unsigned player drafted in April.
— The Houston Texans have signed veteran offensive tackle George Fant.
