Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
6 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M M icah Parsons is reportedly no closer to finalizing a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys than he was earlier this year. If anything, the standoff has only intensified in the days since the former Penn State All-Ameri- can requested a trade from the NFC East franchise. "No deal in sight. If there's no deal in sight ... what's going to happen?" NFL insider Adam Schefter asked during an Aug. 11 appearance on ESPN's "Get Up." "What would be the Cowboys' plan here? Obviously, if they can't get a long-term deal done — and the two sides are not even talking about it right now — then they can always have Micah this year ... if he plays. And they have the franchise tag after this year. They'd have the franchise tag the next year. They have his rights, essentially, for three years. At some point in time, you have to wonder if they would look to trade him. "They've been very opposed to that idea publicly, saying they're not inter- ested in trading him — he's not going to be dealt. But you can't not sign the guy and then not trade him. It's one or the other. Either you're going to work on a long-term deal, which they haven't done with him, or you're going to have to explore other options." Schefter added that both sides were "disappointed" with each other. Parsons is at the team's training camp but is not participating. The All-Pro edge rusher is also dealing with a back injury, according to multiple reports. His current contract will pay him just above $24 million for the 2025 season. Parsons originally asked to be traded at the start of camp. "Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here," he wrote on social media. "I no longer want to be held to close-door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates." The Cowboys are set to open the 2025 season Sept. 4 with a road game against defending Super Bowl champion Phila- delphia. FORMER NITTANY LIONS IN THE NFL As of Aug. 10 Saquon Barkley (Played at Penn State from 2015-17), RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Like many of the team's veteran starters, Barkley didn't see action in Philadelphia's 34-27 vic- tory over visiting Cincinnati in its preseason opener Aug. 7. Ryan Bates (2016-18), OL, Chicago Bears: Bates played 29 snaps at guard in the Bears' preseason opener, a 24-24 tie with visiting Miami on Aug. 10. Jaquan Brisker (2019-21), S, Chicago Bears: Brisker has reportedly looked good in training camp after missing part of last season with a concussion, but he didn't see action against the Dolphins. Ji'Ayir Brown (2020-22), S, San Francisco 49ers: Slowed by an ankle injury in training camp, Brown did not see action in the 49ers' 30-9 loss to Denver on Aug. 9. Abdul Carter (2022-24), DE, New York Gi- ants: In his first NFL game, Carter finished with 3 quarterback hurries and 1 tackle on only 6 snaps in the Giants' 34-25 victory over host Buffalo on Aug. 9. His 82.5 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus was the team's best. Tariq Castro-Fields (2017-21), CB, Philadel- phia Eagles: Castro-Field had a solo tackle and 2 passes defended in the Eagles' win over Cincinnati. Sean Clifford (2017-22), QB, Green Bay Packers: Clifford completed 2 of 4 passes for 14 yards in the Packers' 30-10 loss to the visiting New York Jets on Aug. 9. Jahan Dotson (2018-21), WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Dotson caught 2 passes for 27 yards in the Eagles' win over Cincinnati. Arnold Ebiketie (2021), LB, Atlanta Falcons: Ebeketie had a sack and a tackle for loss in Atlanta's 17-10 loss to visiting Detroit on Aug. 8. Olumuyiwa Fashanu (2020-23), OL, New York Jets: Expected to be the Jets' starting left tackle this fall, Fashanu played 10 snaps in the Jets' victory over Green Bay. Pat Freiermuth (2018-20), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Freiermuth didn't see action in the Steelers' 31-25 victory over host Jacksonville in their preseason opener Aug. 9. Will Fries (2017-20), OL, Minnesota Vikings: Making his Vikings debut, Fries played 12 snaps in a 20-10 win over Houston on Aug. 9. Micah Parsons Seeks Trade Amid Impasse With Cowboys G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M PSU IN THE PROS The Cowboys say they have no intention of trading Parsons, but other teams are starting to wonder if he's played his last game for Dallas. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS