Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is no stranger to controversy, but his latest comments have sparked backlash. This time from JJ Watt, a future Hall-of-Famer and respected voice around the league.
During a press conference Monday, Jones fired unexpected shots at two of his franchise cornerstones: Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott.
Cowboys’ Jones Takes Aim at His Own Stars
When asked about Parsons’ ongoing contract talks, Jones downplayed the urgency of a deal by referencing the linebacker’s injury history.
“Just because we sign him doesn’t mean we’re gonna have him. He was hurt six games last year,” Jones said.
He didn’t stop there. The Cowboys owner pivoted to reference Prescott, saying:
“I remember signing a player at the highest paid for his position in the league, and he got knocked out for two-thirds of the year.”
Jones’ comments raised eyebrows across the NFL, especially because Parsons is currently negotiating a new deal and still reported to camp on time.
Read More: Watch Micah Parsons Lead the NFL’s Most Exciting Players
JJ Watt Responds: “That’s Not Leadership”
JJ Watt was quick to call out Jones on social media, blasting the owner’s comments with heavy sarcasm.
“Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it…” Watt posted.
He continued:
“Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you.”
In a twist of poetic timing, Parsons himself retweeted Watt’s post, amplifying the message without saying a word.
Despite the media storm, Parsons reported to training camp Monday. The 26-year-old is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, set to earn $24 million this season. Contrary to Jones’ comments, Parsons only missed four games last year, not six and still tallied:
- 12.0 sacks
- 43 total tackles
- 12 tackles for loss
Whether the Cowboys secure him long-term remains uncertain, but if Jones keeps criticizing his top players, it may make negotiations even tougher.
Read More: Cowboys Star Micah Parsons Shares Love for Latto, Says She’d Bring the Sacks
