Why Cowboys’ Jerry Jones loops brokers out of contract talks

FRISCO, Texas — Micah Parsons is not the primary participant whom Dallas Cowboys proprietor and common supervisor Jerry Jones has talked to instantly a few contract extension. He will not be the final.

It has been a standard follow for Jones and government vp Stephen Jones over time to interact with their star gamers in hopes of convincing them to signal a brand new deal, after which finalizing the small print with the participant's agent.

There's nothing within the collective bargaining settlement that explicitly prevents the discussions, though a number of brokers stated it's not look to avoid them and go to the participant who may not know all the small print — particulars that might find yourself costing the participant cash. Whereas the brokers work for the gamers, they're additionally defending their very own pursuits by ensuring they're concerned in all elements of the negotiation.

“Now we have — not exaggerating — most likely 30 classes we use to judge a deal, whether or not it is new cash, previous cash, assure construction, no matter,” one agent, who has expertise doing offers with the Cowboys, stated. “That is too many shifting elements, and it takes greater than a handshake.”

Parsons' return to AT&T Stadium with the Inexperienced Bay Packers to face the Cowboys on Sunday (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) brings to thoughts the ending of a relationship that at one time appeared as if it could final the cross rusher's whole profession.

In December, Parsons stated, “Jerry's my man.” In April, Jerry Jones stated Parsons was considered one of three individuals who have his private cellphone quantity.

But 4 months later, Parsons was traded to the Packers for defensive sort out Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 over what could possibly be thought of a misunderstanding.

Final March, Jerry Jones thought he and Parsons had reached an settlement on a contract extension that sources stated would have assured him roughly $150 million. When the settlement was relayed to Parsons' agent, David Mulugheta, he instructed the workforce that he does Parsons' negotiations.

Parsons contended the assembly with Jones was about management. Final week he was requested if he felt it was a negotiation.

“Nah, clearly he desires to know the place I am at, what I believe,” Parsons stated. “I am pondering he desires to know the place I am at with the method, and that is what I assumed. Clearly, none of that issues now. I am right here.”

The edges by no means talked once more a few contract extension, and the controversial commerce was made one week earlier than the Cowboys opened the season in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.

The Cowboys' direct strategy to negotiating with gamers has been questioned earlier than and Jerry Jones would not cover his need to work instantly with a participant.

“These issues that go over these years are treasures with these guys,” Jones stated. “Their lawyer or their agent is not essentially wherever to be discovered 10 years later. Not solely that, typically they are not even to be discovered as a result of one man within the company has handed it off to a different man.

“So these guys which can be sitting right here along with your Dallas Cowboys and the individuals which can be out right here placing it on the road and going to construct recollections which can be part of their legacies and their households for years and years, you'll be able to't try this although an company [or] via a 3rd celebration. At the least I am unable to. … I wish to be within the combine there.”

Over time, the Joneses have labored offers, to various levels, with many gamers — Tony Romo, Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware, Zack Martin. The minute particulars are then labored out by the agent and, successfully, government VP Stephen Jones with the assistance of Adam Prasifka, Cowboys senior director of wage cap/participant contracts.

However the Cowboys do not drive it on a participant.

“We do have gamers that are available and we have completely revered that [when they] say, ‘I do not really feel snug speaking about my contract. I might such as you to undergo my agent,'” Stephen Jones stated. “We try this, respectfully. You are not required to return in and negotiate the contract your self. All those we have finished like which can be those that request to return in and go to with Jerry or myself. That is the one ones we have finished that method.”

What's it like when the Joneses step into the discussions with the participant?

Quarterback Dak Prescott has had two protracted negotiations with the Cowboys. The primary, in 2021, landed him a four-year, $160 million deal. The second, in 2024, made him the highest-paid participant in NFL historical past with a four-year, $240 million deal that included $231 million assured.

“I by no means engaged in numbers. By no means engaged in numbers,” Prescott stated. “However there was a variety of engagements, particularly on this final one. The primary one perhaps not a lot of something. However this final one, yeah, there was positively some talks, positively completely different talks, notably with Stephen. They usually have been nice talks, they have been phenomenal talks. Truthfully, do not know if I do a re-sign if we do not have these conversations, and it was way more than it was the numbers.”

If the discussions moved past Prescott's future and the route of the group, and into contract figures, the quarterback would inform the Cowboys to speak along with his agent, Todd France, who's with Athletes First, as is Mulugheta. Prescott agreed to go to dinner with Stephen Jones throughout coaching camp whereas his contract negotiations have been ongoing, partly as a result of former and older Cowboys, resembling Witten and Martin had instructed him it was a obligatory a part of the method.

“You need to play the sport,” one agent stated. “They wish to really feel the love, the connectivity with the participant. However you have to be keen to present pushback. You have to be keen to say, ‘I am unable to get into the numbers, that is for my agent to speak about.'”

Throughout the 2006 preseason, the Cowboys needed to signal Romo to an extension, however the quarterback, who had but to throw a cross in a regular-season sport in his first three years after signing as an undrafted free agent, balked.

Sitting in what Jerry Jones described as a “small closet” inside Texas Stadium earlier than a preseason sport, the proprietor and then-coach Invoice Parcells sat knee-to-knee attempting to get Romo to signal.

“It had a little bit shakedown really feel to it,” Romo stated with fun in 2013.

Romo held agency within the second, saying he wanted a monetary dedication that may drive the Cowboys to play him if Drew Bledsoe struggled. He needed incentives that may develop into base wage if he performed.

Jones agreed and the proprietor remembered Parcells saying, “We have got us a quarterback.”

Showing on “The Pivot Podcast” in December 2024, Dez Bryant mentioned a gathering he had with Jerry Jones at AT&T Stadium when the large receiver was searching for a contract extension.

“He tried to get me to signal a contract I did not like. I assumed it was some bulls—,'” Bryant stated. “I used to be like, ‘I ain't this dumb,' and I am listening to him and I kinda interrupted him a little bit bit. I stood up and I used to be like, ‘Mr. Jones, you see that subject down there? You suppose you'll be able to cowl me?' He stated, ‘Nah, you'll destroy me.' And so I stated, ‘So what makes you suppose I can negotiate a contract with you?'”

What makes the Cowboys completely different from most organizations is how omnipresent Jerry Jones is in comparison with different homeowners. And it must be identified he's additionally the final supervisor. He attends most practices. He isn't shy about constructing relationships with gamers. Similar with Stephen Jones.

“I simply suppose most homeowners do not wish to get entangled on that stage,” stated one present GM who has labored in a number of NFL entrance workplaces. “Plenty of homeowners like having relationships with the gamers, however I believe should you requested them, they'd let you know they do not wish to get instantly concerned within the negotiations as a result of it might have an effect on these relationships in a unfavourable method. That is simply the way in which Jerry likes to run his workforce.”

The Joneses say they consider there's cachet to a participant sporting the star on his helmet. They speak about post-playing days alternatives that come from being in Dallas for a profession.

“That is the vibe I bought from them,” stated one former participant who negotiated a contract with the Cowboys previously.

“They know what they're doing. They're attempting to get a dedication by taking part in the Jerry card. We shook palms. We had a deal. We might have had a unfastened settlement with the numbers, however then the wonderful particulars needed to be labored out.”

Till Parsons, more often than not these offers had been labored out or definitely led to a contract being finalized. Brokers know the Cowboys' strategy and attempt to college their shoppers up as a lot as potential about what to say and, perhaps extra importantly, what to not say.

“I believe most [agents] are used to it, however I am wonderful with it,” one longtime agent stated. “As a result of you need to use what [the player and Joneses] have stated and say, ‘That is what they instructed him, why are we not getting this finished?'”

One other agent stated, “It is no completely different than, as an agent, if you're coping with a cap man and you are feeling like it's important to go round him to speak to the GM. You would possibly have the ability to make a distinct type of attraction to the GM than you'll be able to to the numbers man.”

Years in the past, the Cowboys have been in a position to re-sign gamers earlier and far simpler. Professional Bowl offensive linemen Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick bought offers finished after their third years. On Sept. 13, the Cowboys made left guard Tyler Smith the highest-paid inside offensive lineman in soccer with a four-year extension value $96 million. Tyler Smith requested to remain out of the talks and was signed two years earlier than he might have hit free company.

He was the third participant the Cowboys signed for the reason that begin of coaching camp, becoming a member of tight finish Jake Ferguson (4 years, $50 million) and cornerback DaRon Bland (4 years, $92 million).

They have been set to develop into free brokers after the season. In 2024, the Cowboys have been in a position to re-sign Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, however Lamb's contract wasn't finalized till late in coaching camp, and Prescott's the day of the season opener.

“You knew going into 12 months 4, you have been getting a deal [if they wanted to keep you],” an agent stated. “I used to suppose Jerry appreciated the entire consideration and other people speaking concerning the Cowboys, however in the long run all [the waiting] has finished is price them more cash and pissed individuals off.”

As he went via extension talks the primary time, Prescott acknowledged he took the negotiations personally. It was troublesome to separate the enterprise from the sport. He stated he felt there was “pressure” between him and the Joneses.

“Going again to after 2020, I am taking part in on the franchise tag, I break my ankle, and I say ‘pressure' extra so as a result of we weren't speaking,” Prescott stated. “And truthfully, yeah, there'd be occasions I might see them [in the facility] and I will go this different method.”

When requested how concerned gamers must be in precise negotiations, Parsons stated, “It is onerous to say.”

“I might say you rent somebody that you simply belief for a purpose,” Parsons added. “It is like, if you are going to courtroom, you are not saying you belief your self to struggle for your self, proper? You are not doing that, so I am not going to enter a room with an proprietor and struggle for myself as a result of we do not know every little thing. We do not know each regulation, each faction, in order that's type of how I really feel about it.”

Throughout a compulsory minicamp follow in June, Jerry Jones and Parsons had an extended on-field dialogue. Afterward, Parsons stated the main target of the discuss was on management, like their March assembly.

As soon as coaching camp started there can be no extra seen talks between Parsons and the Joneses. Throughout a handful of practices in Oxnard, California, Parsons and the Joneses have been usually separated by just a few yards on the sector, however that masked the gulf that by no means closed within the contract talks.

After making his commerce request, Parsons sat on the grass in his No. 11 uniform and watched follow, leaning in opposition to the tower by which Jerry Jones sat. On one other day, Jones peered down from the perch with Parsons instantly under him.

Throughout the third quarter of the ultimate preseason sport in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons, Parsons was mendacity on a medical desk.

Six days later he was traded.

Thirty-one days later, Parsons returns within the Packers' inexperienced and gold.

ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.