Cowboys expect Parsons to be around amid talks

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When the Dallas Cowboys' voluntary offseason program begins next week, Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer expects star pass rusher Micah Parsons to be a participant.

Since Schottenheimer is a first-year head coach, the Cowboys' conditioning starts Monday, as for the other teams with new head coaches.

Over the past two years, Parsons has not been a frequent member of the offseason program, working mostly on his own in the early conditioning work and organized team activities. He has been at the mandatory June minicamp, but now that the team and Parsons are engaged in contract negotiations, there has been a thought that Parsons would not be around.

Last year, Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb skipped the offseason program, minicamp and most of training camp before signing a four-year, $136 million deal in August. Quarterback Dak Prescott, however, did not miss a day before he signed a four-year, $240 million deal as the season opened in September.

"Hey, look, at the end of the day this is a business and when you're dealing with the money that's being tossed around, not just with Micah but with the big-name players, negotiations sometimes take time," Schottenheimer said from the NFL's annual league meeting at The Breakers resort. "I feel very comfortable. Micah said he's going to be around. I think that he wants to be. I think we're all very comfortable with that. And at the end of the day he's a great player and we think he's just getting started, to be honest with you. I have no question in my mind that he'll be around."

Parsons has talked about expanding his role as a leader over the years. With the free agent departures of DeMarcus Lawrence and Jourdan Lewis, Parsons has an opportunity to become more of a leader.

Prescott has long felt that working out with teammates in the spring has helped his leadership ability.

"Micah's excited about the opportunity to step up in a leadership role," Schottenheimer said. "There's no reason he shouldn't. The best teams I've ever been around, their best players are their best leaders, and so again, I think the more you're around, the more you have a chance to influence the guys, and not just the guys that are back but there's a bunch of new faces. We've added the free agency group. We're going to add some guys in the draft. That's a part of the puzzle. But I know he's excited about that. I think that's one of the reasons why he will be around."