Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't pressing to get a deal done with star pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Jones said Tuesday from the NFL's Annual League Meeting that he'd rather get the contract right than rush the deal.
"We are there. I don't view it as urgent at all," he said. "Some say using the basis that the earlier you get something done, the cheaper. Well, the earlier you get something done, a lot of the time, the more mistakes you make. You might want to see a few more cards played, not just with that particular negotiation but with the whole team. I know I'm kind of being a little defensive here, but the idea that the only success is getting a contract done at an early time is incorrect.
"I'd rather pay more and get it right than pay less and screw it up. You can screw it up real good. You can go too early and misread athletic ability. You can misread availability for the future. You can get a lot of things screwed up by going early, but any contract that's worth noting, as you well know, it takes two to have an agreement. But more importantly, nine times out of 10, if I wanted to close it, I'd close it. And we don't because I'm looking for other cards to be played."
Last year, the Cowboys waited until late August to strike a four-year, $136 million contract with receiver CeeDee Lamb and until the eve of the season to hand Dak Prescott a four-year, $260 million deal.
Set to earn $24.007 million on the fifth year of his rookie contract, Parsons is in line for a massive extension. The question is whether he might blast past Myles Garrett as the top-paid edge rusher at $40 million per year and/or Ja'Marr Chase as the top-paid non-quarterback at $40.25 million annually.
Jones has been discussing the contract directly with Parsons, not his agent, David Mulugheta.
"I'm the one who has to sign the check, and Micah's the one that has to agree to it," Jones said when asked about the dynamic. "That's the straightest way to get to it is the one writing the check and the one agreeing to it talking, and that's the principal that's involved here."
The Cowboys owner said he's had extensive talks with Parsons about a deal.
"I know that I've spent five, six hours with him myself and had a lot of discussions," he said. "Most of the issues, we're in agreement on. I've discussed it all. We obviously don't have an agreement relative to a new contract. Micah's under contract. We'll see how it goes. It's not uncommon for me to visit directly with players. In this particular case, that's the way I'm doing it."
Not long after Jones' comments, Parsons took to social media and stated he wouldn't agree to any deal without his agent's involvement.
"Facts!! David is the best and I will not be doing any deal without David Mulugheta involved!" Parsons wrote. "Like anyone with good sense I hired experts for a reason. There is no one I trust more when it comes to negotiating contracts than David! There will be no backdoors in this contract negotiation."
April 7 marks the start of the voluntary offseason workout programs for teams with new coaches.
