After the Dallas Cowboys’ NFC wildcard playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, 48-32, star linebacker Micah Parsons
has been outspoken in his need for a culture change.
In the most recent incident, Parsons responded to defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence’s assertion that Dallas was
worn out going into the playoff loss to Green Bay by stating that every team plays the Cowboys with the same fervour
as the Super Bowl and that players shouldn’t go into games thinking they are worn out.
Parsons persisted in highlighting culture and identity as a problem for Dallas; however, ESPN’s Bart Scott, who
made an appearance on the morning programme “Get Up,” feels that Parsons is a direct cause of that problem.
“Leadership is reflected in attitude,” Scott stated. “On that defensive side, who is the leader? … Ray Lewis is refusing
to let any team come in and play poorly. Ed Reed isn’t allowing any team to come in and perform poorly. Darrelle
Revis isn’t letting anyone lay an asterisk.
“He’s going to perform and play with such an energy that’s going to make everybody else play.” Scott feels that
Parsons isn’t acting in this way.
With a stellar on-field record, the 24-year-old standout has finished in the top three for NFL Defensive Player of the
Year, made the Pro Bowl, and been selected an All-Pro in each of his first three professional seasons. Naturally,
Parsons has taken on a leadership role on Dallas’ defence, which Scott believes is a major reason the Cowboys aren’t
able to win in the postseason.
“His leadership is lacking,” Scott remarked. “He has no idea what it takes to win in this
league.
Is he a superb athlete? Yes, but being a great athlete alone does not equate to becoming a great leader.
“He needs to go to a leadership school and learn how to lead by example, quit talking so much and being so damn
sensitive.” Throughout his 17 regular season starts, Parsons recorded 14 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, and 33 quarterback
hits; but, in the Cowboys’ playoff loss, he managed just two combined tackles and one quarterback hit. Parsons has
made four postseason appearances and has recorded one sack and three tackles for loss. In the same game, a 31-14
victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, the sack and two of the three tackles for loss occurred. Parsons
has only ever won one postseason game.
However, Scott believes that Parsons’ problems are more related to his off-field activities, such as his active social
media and streaming presence, than they are to his on-field performance.
Get more related update on…sportupdates.co.uk
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