Emmitt Smith’s contract dispute with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during the 1993 season, featured in a Netflix docuseries, is drawing comparisons to current negotiations involving edge rusher Micah Parsons. Smith, who was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and led the league in rushing in 1991 and 1992 on a rookie contract, held out for four weeks during training camp as he sought compensation reflective of his performance following a Super Bowl win.
Addressing Jones at the time, Smith told a reporter, “I’m willing to cooperate if you’re willing to cooperate with me.” In the documentary, Smith said, “Here’s my point of view, I’m a proven commodity now. 1990 Rookie of the Year. 1991 and 1992 led the league in rushing. And I did all that on a rookie deal. But now, I deserve to be paid as the top running back in the National Football League.”
The Dallas Cowboys initially offered Smith a four-year contract worth $9.1 million—short of his requested $17 million over four years. Jones described the situation in the docuseries: “Contract negotiations are full of ambiguity. But I have a very high tolerance for ambiguity ‘cause I can go longer than most and not have the answer. He wanted quarterback money, and I just didn’t have the money to pay that because we hadn’t turned the corner financially during those times.”
Team struggles early in that season prompted defensive end Charles Haley to express frustration directly to Jones about playing without their star running back: “We’ve got the greatest running back in the world, and we’re sitting here playing with a rookie.” According to Haley in the docuseries, “The helmet almost hit Jerry, I almost got cut. But Jerry signed Emmitt the next week.” Jones settled with Smith at $13.6 million over four years, making him football’s highest-paid runner at that time.
Now Micah Parsons is negotiating for what could become another record-setting contract among non-quarterbacks. After finishing last season with a 7-10 record and entering his final year under an initial four-year deal signed in June 2021 worth $17 million—with a fifth-year option exercised by Dallas for $24.007 million—Parsons seeks an extension surpassing deals given to players like Myles Garrett ($40 million per year) and T.J. Watt ($41 million per year). The Dallas Morning News reported Parsons aims for an extension valued at up to $200 million.
Parsons’ recent actions include removing references to “Cowboys” from his social media profiles amid ongoing talks.
On August 21, Jones said on Michael Irvin’s podcast: “I have agreed to give more money than has ever been given in terms of guaranteed money that anyone ever has, as far as a defensive player. I’ve done that. Now, I am the cat that writes the check. Now, Micah has got three years with the Cowboys left. He’s got three years.At some point, somebody has to have the say over the others. At some point, it has to be that way. My job is managing the check.(…)Micah has got to do the playing. Where is the least important part of this equation we’re talking about? The attorney or the agent. He works for Micah. They are in here to make their percentage. They are in here to advise Micah. Come over to our office, and I’ll show you exactly what I offered Micah. We’ve got it in the back. It’s all written down.”
Jane Slater of NFL Network commented on X August 22: “I don’t have a crystal ball but here’s how I expect this to play out. Here soon Micah will talk to Jerry bc Jerry ain’t trading him. Micah is a competitor and he ain’t sitting or interested in losing game checks.(…)The other thing likely wearing on him? Playing and getting hurt without security.(…)Jerry will appreciate the ‘win’, so to speak; he’s been expecting it.(…)Jones knows he has him for three more years if he wants.(…)Jones secretly respects Micah’s mettle though.(…)A worthy opponent in his favorite game ‘deals’. Alas, he will meet Micah again in the middle somehow and then make it look like they both ‘won’ the deal.(…)They will laugh, shake hands and hug tight.(…)Everyone will get what they wanted but once again we will write how much harder both sides made it than it needed to be.-As The World Turns-”
The current negotiations recall Smith’s holdout decades ago but occur under different circumstances; Parsons enters talks after missing playoffs while Smith negotiated after winning a championship.
