Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons is beyond fed up with the officials in the NFL.
Parsons says he is being held on almost every play and would like to see coaches given more options to challenge a play where penalties should have been called.
“Yeah, the problem I see with officiating is I think it becomes a lot more ego thing than it is them actually wanting to call it,” Parsons said, according to the Dallas Morning News. “People say when you come over and talk to a [referee] nicely, he’s going to want to do his job right. But in my eyes, why would I have to talk to you any kind of way if you just did your job the first time.”
Parsons, who has 12½ sacks this season, thinks that officials are not being held accountable for their bad performances.
“They don’t care,” Parsons said. “They’re not getting checks in the mail or notes in the mail about things like that. That’s the only problem I have. It’s just like they don’t care and when you tell them, it’s just like, ‘Oh you’re away from the play, you can’t make the play.’ How are you telling me what I can make? You in my body? You got my abilities? You can’t make that play. I’m a little different, I think I can make every play if I’m near the ball.”
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Parsons reacted earlier this week to officiating after a 33-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With his team trailing 17-6 on a first-and-10 from the Cowboys’ 41-yard line, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran right before sliding for a 1-yard loss. Parsons attempted to slip tight end Dallas Goedert to make a tackle in the backfield, but Goedert appeared to get a hold of Parsons’ jersey.
Parsons pleaded with an official after the play, but no flag was thrown.
After Jon Machota of The Athletic posted the clip on X, formerly Twitter, Parsons wrote, ‘I told you it’s comical !’
