Cowboys' Parsons voices frustration with NFL officiating
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons isn't happy with NFL officiating this season.
"I think the refs understand I'm a good player, but they don't understand the actual plays I can make with my speed and what I can control," Parsons said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
Parsons specifically voiced disappointment that he hasn't drawn a holding penalty since Week 6.
"I've been to the quarterback quite a lot in that time, so it's definitely frustrating sometimes," he said.
His comments come after Dallas' 22-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The star defender had already voiced his frustrations with NFL officials on social media following the game.
Micah Parsons taking to Instagram with his frustration over not drawing a holding call in a very long time. Did he really need a caption with this picture to make his point?! (Nope) @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/IsVufvp23H
— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbFOX4) December 25, 2023
A roughing the passer call also drew Parsons' ire during the Dolphins matchup. Teammate DeMarcus Lawrence had to restrain the two-time All-Pro from the referee after a red-zone call late in the second quarter.
Micah Parsons hasn’t gotten a holding call in nearly forty quarters, but gets flagged for literally playing football.
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) December 24, 2023
I’d be heated too.pic.twitter.com/jpHmLR3Lmu
"In the most humblest way ever, I don't think there's another rusher like me in the league," Parsons said, per Archer. "I don't think there's a rusher that runs as quick as I do. There's not a rusher that does the things that I do. I mean, that's on tape, and I'm pretty sure other rushers can tell you that or whoever.
"So I think they put me on the same pedestal as other rushers, and we're just all not the same. You can't compare me to a lot of other rushers at all. And how they scheme me versus how they scheme other rushers, it's just not even the same."
Dallas recently sent play sequences to the league about the lack of offensive holding calls Parsons has drawn, according to Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN.
Parsons is one of this season's front-runners for the Defensive Player of the Year. The 24-year-old, who finished second for DPOY in each of the last two seasons, has racked up 53 tackles (15 for loss), 30 QB hits, and 13 sacks through 15 games in 2023. He also leads the NFL with 97 pressures, according to PFF.
The 10-5 Cowboys and Parsons face the Detroit Lions, owners of one of the league's best offensive lines, on Sunday.