Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott cradles his newborn girls Aurora Rayne Prescott as he rolls over to get up following the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

OXNARD, Calif. — Micah Parsons has seen the script before when it comes to negotiations with the Cowboys. He watched two teammates, quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, wait to get a deal done until after training camp a year ago. Prescott did the dance with Jerry and Stephen Jones twice.

“I wouldn’t say it’s hard not to take it personally when you know there’s a chain of events of something consistently happening over the course of years, when you see it before through other plays and things,” said Parsons, a three-time finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.

“I don’t take it personally. I just don’t understand.”

Now, amid a negotiation himself, it seems Parsons is ready to act out a familiar part of that script: to fire back with some discouragement of his own.

While the Cowboys ultimately got deals done for Prescott and Lamb, it wasn’t without moments of contentiousness. Lamb didn’t appreciate when Jerry Jones said at last year’s camp there wasn’t urgency to get him signed, though Jones eventually backtracked on that idea. Prescott, a veteran in the negotiation game by last year, didn’t hesitate to remind people in interviews that he would have plenty of suitors willing to pay him market value if he ever hit the market.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) signs autographs for fans in the VIP area following the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Parsons will likely get his deal done — one that will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league — in similar fashion. Two days into camp, it appears the verbal contentiousness from both sides has ramped up, just like it did for Cowboys stars before Parsons.

Parsons, standing alongside cornerback Trevon Diggs, spoke with the media about the state of his contract negotiations with the Cowboys. Parsons and Jones, as Jones confirmed once again Monday, had a verbal agreement on a new deal in March.

“We went over every possible detail,” Jones said.

But that was without the approval of Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First. Mulugheta and Adam Prasifika, the team’s director of salary cap and player contracts, met at the combine.

The Joneses confirmed Monday they haven’t had a conversation with Mulugheta. Parsons said Tuesday that Mulugheta has reached out to Prasifika, however: “whoever their in-betweener is. You know how they do.”

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and his star wide receivers CeeDee Lamb (88) and George Pickens (3) converse after a series of plays during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

In terms of being on the opposite side of negotiating with the Cowboys, Parsons has been calm so far. He showed up to mandatory minicamp. He arrived at training camp Monday. He even lost to Prescott in a ping pong game later that night, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who made sure to note that Parsons was playing with a disadvantage because he didn’t have his own paddle.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton (10) fires a pass under pressure during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

When it came to his thoughts on negotiations, however, Parsons had a different tone Tuesday.

When asked if he thought the Cowboys want to get a deal done, Parsons said he honestly didn’t know.

“For me, it really don’t matter,” said Parsons, who didn’t practice beyond warmups Tuesday due to a back issue. “I’ve been pretty consistent: if they don’t want me here, then they don’t want me here. I’ll go about my business. Like I said, as long as I’m here and under contract, I’m going to do what I have to do to perform at the highest level. But if this is the end, this is the end.”

That likely won’t happen. The Cowboys have shown they’re willing to pay their stars. That’s been consistent. Recently, so has the timing.

Parsons said recently in a podcast that he wanted to get the deal done last year, but the Cowboys front office has drawn it out and “complicated” things. Jones, answering a separate question Monday, said he wasn’t interested in engaging in a back-and-forth about what Parsons said or didn’t say. Jones also indicated the Cowboys would like to see Parsons in a leadership role this training camp. He also said the closer the Cowboys get to a deadline, the more certain they can get about paying a player.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott plays with his daughter Margaret Jane "MJ" Rose Prescott as his fiancé Sarah Jane Ramos joined them following the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

“We’ll see how long things take,” Parsons said.

As discouraging as it can be to Parsons.

“When you go around the league and see these other teams taking care of their best guys — I see T.J. [Watt] got taken care of, Myles [Garrett] got taken care of, and he’s got two years left on his deal,” Parsons said. “When you see a lot of people around the league getting taken care of you wish you had that same type of energy.

“I just say, ‘Must be nice.’”

Dallas Cowboys running back Miles Sanders (27) runs over tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford (89) as he got in the way during a first day of practice play at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receivers George Pickens (3) and CeeDee Lamb (88) spent a lot of time together during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) escapes the tackle attempt by safety Malik Hooker (28) during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025. Hooker rolled up and chased down Pickens and stripped the ball from him.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (94) intercepted a ball that was thrown to running back Miles Sanders (27) during a first day of practice play at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) turns up field after catching a pass during a first day of practice play at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) bump fists after the two connected on a long pass completion during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) attempts to strip the ball from wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) who raced down the sideline following a catch during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (32) punched the ball out of Dallas Cowboys tight end Princeton Fant (85) following a first day of practice pass play at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (9) races onto the practice field for the first day of training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer greeted his two star receivers CeeDee Lamb (88) and George Pickens (3) as the first day of practice got underway at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) slap hands with Rowdy, the team mascot, as they take the practice field for the first day of training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (second from left) visits with his son Jerry Jones, Jr in the tower during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs works on on the exercise cord as he recovers from surgery during the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) receives a hug from fellow quarterback Joe Milton (10) as the two took the field for the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) takes his newborn daughter Aurora Rayne from his fiancé Sarah Jane Ramos as they played with their older daughter MJ following the first day of practice at training camp in Oxnard, California, July 22, 2025.