Micah Parsons' start to his NFL career has been nothing short of legendary. In his first season, he claimed the prestigious Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and he followed it up with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his sophomore campaign. With such an impressive start, it's hard to deny that Parsons is on track to become the highest-paid defender in football.
Nick Bosa's recent contract extension has set a new standard for the league's elite defenders, reaching a staggering $34 million per year. Fully aware that his own payday is approaching, Parsons wasted no time in congratulating Bosa on his remarkable achievement.
"Super happy for Nick Bosa, man," Parsons expressed, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "He really showed why he was the best player in the league last year. It gives you something to chase, man. And not in terms of his contract, but in terms of how great he was. If you study his mindset and how patient he was and let the game come to him."
Parsons understands the importance of recognizing Bosa's performance rather than fixating on his paycheck. He aims to emulate Bosa's excellence on the field, not just his financial success. Nevertheless, Parsons knows that on-field accomplishments ultimately determine the size of a player's contract.
For a player of Parsons' caliber, only two potential obstacles stand in the way of following Bosa's footsteps: injuries and losing sight of what truly matters. So far, Parsons has been fortunate to avoid major injuries, appearing in nearly every game during his first two seasons. To continue his success, he must remain focused and determined.
"I don't even think about that," Parsons responded when asked about a future contract extension. "Like I told you, I really just enjoy the game. I love what I do. And just, everyone else can talk about it.
"My dad always said that, everyone can talk about how good you are. Everyone can talk about what your future looks like and things like that, but at the end, you've always just got to act like you've been there before and act like it's normal because if you're good everyone else will talk about you."
Parsons doesn't prioritize chasing dollar signs, at least not openly. Instead, he sets his sights on a different goal: winning the Lombardi Trophy. He understands that achieving this feat in 2023 will elevate his status and earn him the respect and admiration of others.
"I've been sleeping on it. I've been dreaming about it," Parsons revealed, per the Star-Telegram. "Late at night, man, I just think Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. I know I've got to take care of each week as its own. Every day has its worries of its own, and every day you have to focus on just getting better that inch and inch. And eventually, you build enough inches to where you are in the Super Bowl, and you know you'll be there.
"But your preparation, your work, your mindset -- everything you do each day leads to the Super Bowl. Not just saying, 'Hey, I want to go to the Super Bowl.' It just doesn't work like that."
For nearly three decades, the Dallas Cowboys have fallen short of their Super Bowl aspirations. If Parsons becomes the catalyst that propels them to the top, there's no doubt that his contract will become a reflection of his incredible talent.
