Micah Parsons found himself addressing criticism on his podcast Monday after comments he made about Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy stirred controversy. ESPN pundits, including former NFL player Damien Woody and ex-coach Rex Ryan, weighed in on Parsons’ remarks, which suggested uncertainty about McCarthy’s future with the team. The comments became a topic of debate on ESPN’s Get Up, prompting Parsons to respond and clarify his intentions.
On his Bleacher Report podcast, Parsons fired back, dismissing the idea that he had criticized McCarthy. He emphasized that he had never intended to “throw Mike McCarthy under the bus” and expressed respect for McCarthy’s career, noting that the coach is a Super Bowl champion and one of the winningest in NFL history. Parsons clarified that when asked about McCarthy’s future with the Cowboys, he simply said it was “above my pay grade” to comment further.
Parsons also addressed the role of TV analysts like Woody and Ryan, calling out their tendency to create controversy for the sake of entertainment. He argued that these analysts sometimes misrepresent players’ words and intentions. According to Parsons, they often take things out of context to generate drama, which can be harmful, especially when it comes to locker room dynamics.
Further calling out Ryan, Parsons reminded listeners of the ex-coach’s interest in coaching the Cowboys’ defense. However, Parsons made it clear that he would prefer to work with a coach like Mike Zimmer. Parsons used this as an example of how some analysts might not fully understand or respect the realities of the team’s internal dynamics.
In his podcast, Parsons also mentioned his deep respect for veteran players like Zack Martin, who are pushing through tough seasons and potentially nearing the end of their careers. Parsons expressed admiration for these teammates who continue to give their all despite physical challenges, reinforcing the notion that he values those who stand beside him on the field.
Closing out his remarks, Parsons reiterated his commitment to his teammates and the Cowboys’ success, stressing that he would “100%” choose to support the players he shares the field with. His comments were an attempt to put to rest any misconceptions about his views on McCarthy and to redirect focus to the team’s collective goal.
