Kristina Roberts
For years, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has loved to tell people that there was nothing he wouldn’t do to win another Super Bowl. Whenever he spoke about it, he made it sound like he was ready to give up anything. Money? No problem. Team value? He once said he would even hand over “two-thirds, or a third, whatever percentage” of the franchise if that meant the Cowboys would win the championship. He sometimes said it with a smile, sometimes with tears in his eyes, but the message was always clear: winning a Super Bowl was his biggest dream.
“I’d do anything known to man to win a Super Bowl,” Jones once said. “That’s a fact.”
But now, that statement feels more like a myth than reality. On Thursday, Jones made a move that shocked many fans across the league. He traded away one of the most talented players the Cowboys have ever had — 26-year-old star defender Micah Parsons — to the Green Bay Packers. The return package? Two first-round picks, which will probably be late in the draft, and a defensive tackle, Kenny Clark, who will soon be 30 years old. The deal also meant that Jones avoided paying Parsons what would have been a record-setting contract for a defensive player.
At first glance, this may look like a business decision. Parsons was due for a massive payday, and the Cowboys decided not to commit to such a large deal. But when you look closely, it feels like the Cowboys lost more than they gained. Parsons is not just any player. He is a once-in-a-generation type of defender who changes games on almost every snap.
For the Packers, this trade is a dream come true. Some fans even say it’s the best defensive addition the franchise has made since they signed Reggie White in 1993. That is a huge comparison. Green Bay also once signed Charles Woodson back in 2006, and he went on to win a Super Bowl, become Defensive Player of the Year, and even secure a place in the Hall of Fame. But Parsons is younger than both of those players were when they joined the Packers, and unlike Woodson at that time, Parsons doesn’t come with any baggage or concerns about his off-field life.
Parsons is also different because teams can’t simply avoid him. When Woodson played, quarterbacks could sometimes throw away from his side of the field. With Parsons, there is no escaping him. He impacts the game on nearly every play, rushing the passer, chasing down runners, and even covering receivers when needed. He is everywhere at once, much like Reggie White used to be.
Money, of course, is at the center of this deal. The Packers didn’t just trade draft picks and a veteran player. They also gave Parsons a reported four-year, $188 million contract, with $136 million guaranteed. That’s an average of $47 million per year. To put that in perspective, only 11 quarterbacks in the NFL earn more than Parsons now. It is an enormous amount for a defender, and it means Parsons has to stay at the very top of his game for years to come.
But here’s the thing: if any player can live up to that, it’s Micah Parsons. He has already been in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year almost every season of his career. He is only 26, and defenders often play at a high level well into their 30s. The Packers believe they are getting a star who can anchor their defense for years, and they may be right.
For the Cowboys, however, this trade feels like giving up. Jerry Jones has said over and over that he would spend anything, do anything, and sacrifice anything to win another Super Bowl. But when it came time to pay one of the best players they have ever had, he backed away. Instead of opening his checkbook, he chose to look for future draft picks and avoid the huge contract.
Cowboys fans are understandably upset. They have waited for decades to see their team back on top, and Parsons was one of the brightest reasons to hope it could finally happen. Now, instead of wearing the star on his helmet, Parsons will be suiting up in the green and gold of the Packers.
The NFL is full of tough business choices, and sometimes trades work out in unexpected ways. Maybe the Cowboys will draft future stars with those two first-round picks. Maybe Kenny Clark will surprise people by playing like a younger man. But right now, it doesn’t feel like a good trade for Dallas. It feels like they gave up a rare talent in exchange for maybes and money savings.
Jerry Jones has always been one of the most colorful owners in the NFL. He loves the spotlight, loves the drama, and loves talking about the Cowboys’ rich history. But after this trade, many are asking whether his words about “doing anything to win” were ever really true. If he truly would do anything, why not keep Parsons — the kind of player who makes winning possible?
Parsons himself has not said much yet, but one thing is certain: he now has the chance to make history with the Packers. Imagine the story if he helps Green Bay win another Super Bowl, while the Cowboys continue to wait. It would be a painful reminder for Dallas fans that their team let go of a legend too soon.
In the end, this trade isn’t just about numbers, contracts, or draft picks. It’s about belief. The Packers believed Parsons was worth everything they gave up, including a record-breaking contract. The Cowboys believed it was better to save their money and take their chances with future players. Only time will tell who made the right choice. But today, it looks like Green Bay won big, and Dallas lost not just a player, but perhaps a piece of their identity.
As for Jerry Jones, maybe the next time he says, “I’d do anything known to man to win a Super Bowl,” people won’t be so quick to believe it.
