Calm down Dallas.
That was essentially the message Cowboys co-owner and COO Stephen Jones relayed to the public ahead of the annual league meetings, when asked about the future of Micah Parsons and his potential new contract.
It is the biggest question that hangs over the $10.3 billion franchise.
What are they going to do with the all-worldly defender Parsons?
It has been no secret that Parsons is looking for a new contract.
He is set to play this season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, but both sides have expressed wanting to get a deal done before then.
The goods news for Parsons and the potential bad news for Jones and the Cowboys, is that the market has already been reset a handful of times over the last few weeks, which has presumably only driven up Parsons asking price.
The Las Vegas Raiders signed pass rusher Maxx Crosby to a three-year, $106.5 million extension that included $91.5 million guaranteed.
The Cleveland Browns saw that and quickly made Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback with an extension that averaged $40 million and included $123.5 million guaranteed, putting an end to his trade demands earlier this year.
Garrett’s moment in the sun as the highest-paid non-quarterback was also shortly lived as Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals were then able to work out a a four-year, $161 million deal that includes $112 million guaranteed, making Chase the current highest-paid non-quarterback.
All eyes have now shifted to Parsons and the Cowboys.
And according to Jones, he feels “pretty good” about the negotiations.
ESPN’s Todd Archer first reported the news, citing Jones Junior.
“I don’t want to get into any details,” he said.
“It’s not fair for anybody, other than we’ve got a great working relationship with Micah and think the world of him.
“Like I’ve said, we’ve had good visits with him and feel good about where we’re headed.
“I’m not going to get into any detail on where things are, and how far along we are or anything like that.
“It’s not productive.
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“We’ve done the early before, and we’ve waited until the end to do them.
“A lot of it is just the negotiation itself. Some of them take longer than others.
“And we put about zero credibility or credence into people saying you wait too long.”
Jones can say that they don’t listen to the outside noise all he wants, but it’s clear that the public perception of the Cowboys and the product on the field, has cratered in recent years.
The Cowboys have the longest streak without reaching an NFC championship game, going all the way back to 1995.
And now they have a first-year head coach, in Brian Schottenheimer and a potential holdout situation looming with Parsons.
Stephen’s father, Jerry, relishes the spotlight.
And in recent seasons, it hasn’t mattered whether or not the Cowboys have even been good, Jones will still find a way to make it about ‘America’s Team.’
Truth be told, Jones would probably like to at least get back to the NFC title game as he desperately clings to the limelight.
And if they want to give themselves the best chance at doing so, they may just have to write a $200 million check to Parsons.
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