Cowboys’ Micah Parsons skips second week of OTAs; Mike McCarthy calls absence missed opportunity

FRISCO, Texas – The organized team activities portion of any NFL team The offseason program is voluntary, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

The CBA states that teams “may undertake a total of 10 days of organized team practice activities, or ‘OTAs’. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.”

For a Dallas Cowboys team that is installing a different defensive scheme under new coordinator Mike Zimmer, presence certainly seems key to getting everyone on the same page. However, Cowboys three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who led the NFL with 103 quarterback pressures in 2023, missed OTAs for the second week in a row. Dallas coach Mike McCarthy described Parsons’ absence as “a missed opportunity” for him as a leader and to learn Zimmer’s defense in person with his teammates.

“I think any time you have a chance to be together, it’s an opportunity to improve, whether it’s in the mental realm, the physical realm, which is obviously limited this time of year, and the emotional connection and so on,” McCarthy said. when asked about Parsons’ participation in OTAs on Thursday. “It’s a long year. Training camp is really the main focus for all of this. But yeah, it’s definitely an opportunity that was missed [for Parsons].”

“What does volunteer mean?” McCarty continued with a smile, referencing when former Cowboys linebacker Darren Hambrick uttered exactly the same sentence when asked why he didn’t attend OTAs in 2001.

McCarthy made a point of highlighting that 98% of his roster has had perfect participation in the Cowboys’ offseason program thus far.

“At the end of the day, everyone has a responsibility and that’s our job,” McCarthy said. “Obviously we have this period of time to carry out football activities that are regulated [and] 98% of our football team was here 100% of the time. So, frankly, we achieved a lot. Yesterday’s practice was a huge fire in terms of the energy the receivers and specialists were putting into it. Cutting today. Everyone has a responsibility, whether they’re here or not, to get what they need, because when we hit Oxnard [for training camp] This is our only opportunity for real football and this is how we approach it. I’m confident everyone will be ready to go when we get there.”

Parsons was at The Star — the Cowboys’ team headquarters in Frisco, Texas — on Wednesday for the team’s media day, where players take individual photos and record other broadcast elements for the jumbotron at home games, as well as for the league. television partners. He did not appear on the field at The Ford Center, the team’s indoor training camp, on Thursday for practice. Parsons, who has been a regular at Dallas Mavericks playoff games during their run to the Western Conference Finals, actually tweeted during Thursday’s OTAs practice commenting on a video of him receiving the Basketball Hall of Famer’s autograph. Dirk Nowitzki while sitting courtside Tuesday night.

“I’m not answering,” McCarthy said when asked if Parsons was in the building Thursday. “We try to have a little lightness. I’m not going to come up here and talk about one player, especially because 98% of the guys are here.”

The edge rusher missed the previous portion of offseason workouts because he was in Tokyo with Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, serving as an ambassador for the growth of football around the world. They participated in sumo wrestling experiences abroad, among other activities. Parsons spent last week, the first week of OTAs, Choosing to Use Boxing Training prepare your body for the 2024 season instead of attending voluntary workouts.

McCarthy admitted that Parsons “seems to be in pretty good shape” after seeing the edge rusher at the facility at other points during the offseason. He also made a point of saying “we have work to do” in regards to learning Zimmer’s new scheme.

“I think, like anything, he’s engaged and he’ll be ready when the time comes,” McCarthy said of Parsons. “I have confidence in that.”

Parsons’ teammates expressed opinions contrasting with his own regarding OTAs after practice, highlighting the critical components they receive from working with the team during these weeks in the spring. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks didn’t recall skipping any part of OTAs during his 10 years NFL career he spent with five different teams (Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans and Cowboys), excluding the COVID-19 pandemic when NFL offseason programs went virtual.

“I think it’s important for me — being in my second year here — to be a vet and to be here for the young guys to lead,” Cooks said after Thursday’s practice. “Also at the same time, improving my game and having chemistry with our quarterback [Dak Prescott]. I always thought it is [showing up to OTAs] important. I love the process. I’m a process kind of person. As long as I’m playing this game, I’m going to respect him in that aspect.”

Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, who went from one of the Cowboys’ youngest starters along Dallas’ offensive line to one of their most experienced veterans following the departures of left tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz this offseason, had clear takeaways from the OTAs: improving fundamentals and technique, as well as bonding with teammates.

“Now is a great time to work on techniques and fundamentals. Just bringing the young guys along and learning the playbook, just fitting in well,” Smith said after Thursday’s practice. “We can’t really do the most when it comes to physical activity, but the mental aspect and the technical aspects are very important at this stage.”

Quarterback Dak Prescott’s participation in OTAs has been seamless this offseason despite being in the middle of contract negotiations with the front office. He led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes in 2023, and the three-time Pro Bowler enters 2024 in the final year of his current contract.

“Business, business is business. I will leave it where it is treated,” Prescott said on May 23 in Cowboys OTAs. “Right now it’s about giving my best for this team right now. The OTAs are helping these guys and just focusing on that and I know my business will take care of itself. [in talks with Jerry and Stephen Jones] and just controlling what I can now.”

The next part of the Cowboys’ offseason business, mandatory minicamp, will take place next week, June 4-6. Parsons could be fined for failure to appear if he misses practice again.