What does Micah Parsons want?
Based on what we've been told, something in the range of a "Dallas Cowboys for Life'' deal worth $40 million per year, at five years ... for a total of $200 million. ...
Guaranteed money to be determined.
And what does Cowboys owner Jerry Jones - who we believe is on board with the essence of the above numbers - want in exchange?
Certainly double-figure sacks and major impact on double-figure win totals are a part of what Jones will be paying for when this deal almost inevitably gets done.
But there is something else.
Parsons wants to be a leader - make that, the leader - of the locker room, presumably alongside Dak Prescott. And Jones can envision just that as Micah, at 25, grows into such a role.
But ...
“Micah has to be the player that he wants paid as,” Jones said with frankness. “He has to be a tremendous leader for the Dallas Cowboys.''
Jerry isn't doubting that Parsons can do this.
"He has the skill, the capacity mentally, so for us to justify the kinds of dollars we're talking about, he has to literally lead the way, and he's so substantive that if he's halfway not leading it's glaring. So Micah has to really lead.
"I think,'' Jerry added, "he's committed to do that.''
Jones' belief here is almost certainly based on part on conversations he's had with the player. As CowboysCountry.com was first to report, those face-to-face sessions - at least three of them in recent weeks - have been contract-related.
But they are about more than that ... just like, to Jones, this contract is about more than that.
Micah and Jerry seem to want many of the same things here, and share a recognition that a $200 million commitment isn't a one-way street.
If Parsons gets the deal he wants, Dallas wants him to be the player they need him to be.
And the leader they need him to be.
And the person they need him to be.
