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Micah Parsons on roughing the passer call in loss to Dolphins: ‘It’s hard to play defense’

Parsons drew a flag for a hit on Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa and voiced his displeasure with the call postgame.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons was not happy about being flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty in the second quarter of the Cowboys’ 22-20 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.

Parsons hit Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the back after he attempted a pass to receiver Jaylen Waddle. After the game, Parsons voiced his displeasure with referee Shawn Hochuli.

“I won so quick, how am I supposed to know he got the ball out?” Parsons said of his discussion with Hochuli. “It’s within a second. I didn’t leave my feet. I didn’t lead with my head so I don’t know what a roughing the passer is anymore. He said I could have done something in some manner to avoid him, but in reality I ran into [DeMarcus Lawrence]. We both met at the quarterback. It’s hard to play defense.”

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Parsons had seven tackles, a half-sack, three quarterback hits and a tackle for loss. Parsons has complained in the past about not drawing holding calls from the officials.

On the season, Parsons has been penalized six times — four offsides, illegal use of hands and now the roughing penalty.

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Parsons noted it was his first roughing-the-passer penalty of the season.

“He said my intent was to punish the quarterback,” Parsons said. “But how am I to punish the quarterback if I’m just trying to sack him? It’s not like it’s a late hit and it’s not like I’m leaving my feet. I didn’t lead with my head. I don’t know how you make that call. I don’t see no justification. He said I just tried to punish him. I hadn’t gotten a roughing the passer all year. What do I have against Tua to even try to hurt Tua or anything?”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott drew a roughing-the-passer penalty in the game when he was driven into the ground after throwing a pass.

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Twitter: @calvinwatkins

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