Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
M A Y 2 0 2 5 5 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M M icah Parsons may have surprised some o u ts i d e o bse rve rs when he showed up for Day 1 of the Dallas Cow- boys' voluntary offseason training activities in April. But the former Penn State star and three-time All- Pro told reporters in the Lone Star State that he never considered not at- tending those workouts. Many thought he would skip them, not just be- ca u se a t te n d a n ce i s n 't required, but also because he and the Cowboys have not yet agreed on what is expected to be a mas- sive, and possibly record- setting, contract exten- sion. A conversation with new Cowboys head coach B r i a n S c h o t te n h e i m e r also played a role in his decision. "Everyone's got a different perspec- tive but, talking to Schotty, and [him] telling me how important it is for me to be there, and what he's trying to prove and show to the team — I just thought it was important," Parsons said, per the Cowboys' official website. "For me and my relationship with our new head coach [it's important for me] to under- stand where he's coming from and help him in any way I can to go on this run. "Schotty's been around to try and build relationships. So, I feel like we're at the point where if he asks for me to come in for the leadership aspect, and to be around the guys, and show face, that's something I want to do for my coach. "I mean, for me, it's not really like walking the walk. It's just me. Like I al- ways said, I've wanted to be a Cowboy, and being here, I feel like it's really just being me. I've been as real as possible since I've been here." Parsons went on to tell the outlet that he does believe getting a new deal in place by the time training camp starts is crucial. The Dallas Morning News re- ports, citing sources, that the ex-Nit- tany Lion wants to be the NFL's first $200 million defender. Whether or not the Cowboys agree to that request re- mains to be seen. For now, Parsons is doing the right thing by being around the team early in the offseason. "You really see a lot of players strug- gle when guys aren't participating in camp. They're getting off to slow starts," Parsons said. "I don't want to get off to a slow start. I want to hit the ground running and establish ourselves in this league and get some wins early in the season, and be in rhythm. It's going to be extremely important for me to get going and lead these guys. "I'll still be around [at training camp even if a new deal isn't done]. For me, I've still got to learn a playbook, and I'm not so much of an iPad per- son where I can just keep learning. I've got to walk through it. Maybe it's so much I might not be on the field part of it, but I'll be there learning, so that way I'm at least getting prepared to be ready for Week 1." THE LATEST ON JAHAN DOTSON Former Penn State re- ceiver Jahan Dotson is of- ficially in a contract year. The Philadelphia Eagles declined the fifth-year op- tion on his rookie deal as expected in late April. If the Eagles had accepted it, Dotson would have received $16.8 million in guaranteed earnings in 2026. Instead, his initial four-year deal, which he signed after being chosen in the first round by Washington, will ex- pire after the 2025 season, and that will send Dotson into free agency. Dotson was a first-team All-Big Ten pick for Penn State in 2021, but his col- lege production has not entirely transi- tioned to the NFL. He caught 49 passes for 518 yards and 4 touchdowns in what would end up being his final season with Washington in 2023. Following a management overhaul, the Command- ers moved him to Philadelphia for draft picks just ahead of the 2024 campaign. Dotson would go on to catch just 19 passes for 216 yards in his first year with the Eagles. He is on track to return as a reserve in 2025. ■ Micah Parsons Seeks New Pact From Cowboys Ahead Of Training Camp GREG PICKEL | GREG.PICKEL@ON3.COM PSU IN THE PROS Sources told The Dallas Morning News that Parsons wants to be the NFL's first $200 million defen- sive player. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS