Micah Parsons’ contract tug-of-war with the Cowboys takes center stage after a MNF broadcast featuring Washington vs Cincinnati. Troy Aikman broke down Parsons’ leverage—Dallas can’t win without him—while signaling the Cowboys may outperform expectations this season. Parsons has held in at training camp after a trade request earlier this month, with a fifth-year option worth about $21.3 million on the horizon. Aikman stressed Parsons’ game-wrecking impact and suggested Dallas will navigate the dispute before the opener. The piece frames Dallas’ ceiling around Parsons’ presence and Texas-sized payroll questions as the hold-in drags on.

The discussion also nods to Dallas’ offseason grind under Brian Schottenheimer and co., the team’s path to improvement, and how injuries could reshape the dynamic once play starts. Parsons’ ability to disrupt at the edge remains the anchor, with projections keeping Dallas optimistic even amid the drama. The Star in Frisco is back to work, but the hold-in keeps the drama alive, underscoring how pivotal Parsons is to the Cowboys’ chances and the broader NFL landscape this season.