Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, recently discussed contract negotiations with linebacker Micah Parsons in an interview with USA Today. The conversation took place during the team’s training camp on August 3. When asked about the delay in reaching a deal with Parsons, Jones compared the situation to past negotiations with former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith.
“It took a long time with Emmitt Smith,” Jones said. He also mentioned similar situations involving Zack Martin and Cee Dee Lamb, noting that when players under contract choose to renegotiate or refuse to play under their current terms, delays can occur.
On September 16, 1993, Emmitt Smith signed a significant contract that made him the highest-paid running back at the time. This deal was reportedly front-loaded into 1993 and included $7 million in the first year alone. The contract was structured to surpass that of Thurman Thomas from the Buffalo Bills.
The situation with Parsons appears to mirror Smith’s desire to become one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL. Recent reports suggested that the Cowboys were waiting for T.J. Watt’s new contract with the Steelers before finalizing Parsons’ deal, aiming to offer more than Watt received.
Emmitt Smith concluded his career as a Hall of Famer with impressive statistics: 18,355 rushing yards, 164 rushing touchdowns, and 515 receptions. He famously broke Walter Payton’s all-time NFL rushing record against the Seattle Seahawks in 2002.
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