Former Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee cornerback Darrelle Revis has publicly criticized Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for directly negotiating with linebacker Micah Parsons, bypassing his representatives. Revis, who is reportedly a candidate to become the executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), expressed concern about what he perceives as a lack of action from the union on this matter.
In a statement posted on social media, Revis wrote, “Doing nothing is not an option. At the very least, the NFLPA should be saying it does not condone what Jerry is doing.” He further elaborated that, “The bigger issue is respect. Jerry’s actions show that owners have no problem taking advantage of us, and when our union fails to respond, it sends the message that they’ll be able to do the same in the next CBA negotiations if the current leadership remains in place.” Both quotations were posted by Revis.
This situation comes amid reports that Parsons requested a trade and said the Cowboys have avoided communication with his agents while seeking a contract extension before his rookie deal expires. While there is debate over whether Jones’ actions violate the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the union—since there is no explicit rule against owner-player compensation talks—the move has raised questions about standard negotiation protocols.
Revis has been vocal recently regarding player representation and union accountability. After ESPN reported internal issues at the NFLPA involving an in-house lawyer being placed on administrative leave, Revis questioned developments by writing on social media and tagging the official NFLPA account.
Other former players, including former quarterback Matt Schaub, are also candidates for executive director after previous executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned last month following controversy over several issues. David White currently serves as interim executive director following Howell’s resignation.
