Advertisement

sportsCowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones comments on lack of holding calls for Micah Parsons

The Cowboys star made his displeasure with NFL officiating known after Sunday’s loss to Miami.

Jerry Jones agrees with most when it comes to the lack of holding calls for Micah Parsons.

The Cowboys star defender made his displeasure with the current state of NFL officiating known after Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Parsons, who was flagged for a borderline roughing the passer penalty, also posted a photo to social media of Miami offensive lineman draped around him in the middle of a pass rush. He hasn’t drawn a flag for offensive holding since mid-October.

“I don’t think the intent is to take a player of his skill and limit him,” Jones said of officials’ lack of flags in favor of Parsons during his weekly interview with 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] on Tuesday.

Cowboys

Be the smartest Cowboys fan. Get the latest news.

Or with:

The Cowboys owner and general manager blamed the way officials sometimes call the specific penalty, citing a holding might not be called if the particular defender was too far away from the ball, or would be unable to affect the quarterback whether or not he was being held during the play.

Jones credited Parsons’ explosiveness and pursuit ability as the reason why the same judgement shouldn’t be applied to him.

Advertisement

“He gets officiated, not differently, but most players that don’t get those holds, where Micah doesn’t get them, couldn’t get to the quarterback — Micah can,” Jones said.

“Therefore it is restricting to him.”

Parsons had seven tackles, a half-sack, three quarterback hits and a tackle for loss on Sunday. He has 13 sacks in 15 games this season after setting a career-high of 13.5 in 2022.

Advertisement

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said he’s not worried about Parsons being distracted for voicing his displeasure at not drawing holding calls against offensive linemen.

“I don’t see a young man worried about it in his preparation,” McCarthy said of Parsons. “He’s competing during the game. I think these conversations that happen after the fact, I think that’s more of a product of today’s industry. I don’t see it as an issue. Everyone wants an honest answer, and I think the fact our players and coaches do a very good job of engaging and doing the best they can with their responses.”

Related Stories
View More

Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.