Micah Parsons says he simply went by the toughest 4 months of his life as he feared his contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys would stretch into the beginning of the season.
Now that the matter lastly has been settled with a commerce to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the famous person cross rusher desires to create a legacy befitting one of many NFL’s storied franchises.
Sooner or later after the Packers made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league historical past, Parsons arrived at Inexperienced Bay on Friday, noticed the reveals saluting the franchise’s Corridor of Famers and imagined his personal future.
“I appeared on that wall and I noticed Brett Favre, I noticed Reggie [White], I noticed all these legends, and I used to be like ‘I’ve bought to be there,’ “ Parsons mentioned.
The Packers despatched two first-round picks and three-time Professional Bowl defensive deal with Kenny Clark to Dallas. They’re giving Parsons a four-year, $188m contract with $136m assured.
Parsons provides Inexperienced Bay arguably its finest cross rusher since White. Parsons invited comparisons by together with clips of White in a video he posted on X after the commerce was introduced.
“I simply checked out him like any person who received,” mentioned Parsons, who marveled on the “outrageous” statistics White compiled. “I believe I can try this, too. I believe I can do something I put my thoughts to.”
Parsons will put on a brand new quantity.
At Dallas, Parsons had No 11, which extensive receiver Jayden Reed wears for Inexperienced Bay. Parsons mentioned he plans to put on No 1, turning into the primary Packer to take action since Curly Lambeau from 1925-26.
Though Inexperienced Bay have reached the playoffs with the NFL’s youngest roster every of the final two years, the Packers lacked star energy and a constant cross rush. Parsons supplies each.
The 26-year-old has 52 and a half profession sacks, together with a minimum of 12 in every of his 4 seasons.
“I simply know from having to recreation plan towards him, that’s one thing that retains you up at night time while you’re going towards a participant of his caliber,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned.
Parsons was accessible solely as a result of negotiations with the Cowboys had damaged down.
“I’d say these final 4 months have in all probability been the toughest 4 months of my life,” Parsons mentioned.
Becoming a member of the Packers is a full-circle second for Parsons, who performed working again for a staff referred to as the Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) Packers as a child. Packers offensive deal with Rasheed Walker, a former Penn State teammate, provided constructive stories about taking part in for this franchise.
The timing of this transfer is much like the Oakland Raiders’ commerce of edge rusher Khalil Mack to Chicago simply earlier than the 2018 season. The Packers additionally had sought Mack on the time, and common supervisor Brian Gutekunst believed afterward they could have entered that pursuit somewhat too late.
“I don’t suppose it will’ve modified the result of that again then, however I felt like should you’re going to be on one thing like this, you’re going to should be in early,” Gutekunst mentioned.
Gutekunst made certain the Packers have been in it from the beginning this time, although he was skeptical Parsons would really turn into accessible.
“The probabilities of this stuff happenings are fairly slim,” Gutekunst mentioned. “I believe that was my mindset the entire time, was maintain the conversations going due to the individuality of the participant.”
Gutekunst mentioned a framework for this deal was in place properly earlier than Wednesday. Even then, he didn’t have his hopes up.
“There’s a ton of occasions while you undergo these conversations and you’ve got frameworks and constructions of the way you’re going to do that and it simply doesn’t come to fruition,” he mentioned.
This time, the deal bought achieved.
Parsons’ acquisition and his massive contract carry the Packers some potential short-term and long-term penalties.
Shedding Clark and permitting defensive deal with TJ Slaton to signal with the Cincinnati Bengals in free company leaves Inexperienced Bay brief on depth at that place. The cash dedicated to Parsons and quarterback Jordan Love, who signed a four-year, $220m extension final 12 months, may finally trigger wage cap problems.
“There’s little doubt while you purchase a participant like this, who’s going to take up that a lot of the cap, that you simply’re going to should make some selections,” Gutekunst mentioned. “You all the time do.”
The worth the Packers paid for Parsons makes him that rather more intent on proving his price.
“I’d be a idiot to not suppose there isn’t expectations or there isn’t strain within the place that I’m entering into,” Parsons mentioned. “However then once more, that’s a blessing in itself. That signifies that they believed in me that a lot.”
