The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread V3

Micah Parsons has requested a trade.

Usually sceptical that trade requests are just another poke from an agent trying to get his player a net contract, but this seems to be a lot more nuclear than most. Here's what he posted...

Yes I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet. I wanted to play in front of the best fans in sports and make this Americas team once again. The team my pops and I grew up cheering for way up in Harrisburg, PA. Unfortunately I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me. I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done. But since there is confusion out there let me clear some things up. I had my agent reach out to the Cowboys last off season after my 3rd year in hopes of getting a deal done early. Unfortunately the team did not want to start any negotiations at that point. I was ok with that didn’t complain and focused on the 2024 season. After the season I told my agent once again to let the team know we were open to negotiate when they met at the combine. My agent informed me I should wait for other deals to get done because the price would only go up but I didn’t care and wanted to secure myself as a Cowboy long term. This was before any of the other pass rushers deals got done this off season. I knew I would be leaving money on the table but again I was ok with that. Again radio silence as far as my extension. In March I met with Mr. Jones to talk about leadership. Somehow the conversation turned into him talking contract with me. Yes I engaged in a back and forth in regards to what I wanted from my contract, but at no point did I believe this was supposed to be a formal negotiation and I informed Mr. Jones afterward my agent would reach out thinking this would get things done. But when my agent reached out and spoke to Adam he was told the deal was pretty much already done. My agent of course told him that wasn’t the case and also reached out to Stephen Jones. Again the team decided to go silent. At that point we decided we would allow the team to reach out to us whenever they decided they wanted to talk. Yet still not a call email or text to my agent about starting a negotiation. Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract. Not one demand has been made by my agent about money years or anything else. Still I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally.

I mean, as outsiders we can't know the truth here but between the obvious nonsense coming from Jerry Jones on this specific issue and the general sense that the whole club is being run like a clown car, Parsons side of the story sure does sound true.

NBC Sports/PFT have confirmed Sky have signed for new UK TV rights not much detail beyond that, it will be interesting to see if this Channel 5 speculation materialises which would mirror what the NFL have done in other countries like Germany with increasing free TV coverage along with existing pay TV relationships

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/nfl-and-in-turn-pft-live-will-continue-to-be-televised-by-sky-sports

Interested to see what happens with the games Sky missed out on last year and whether they are part of the new deal. From memory it was the 2 Christmas Day games (3 this year) and then various Saturday night games on Week 16/17/18, the latter going missing at somewhat short notice.

I suspect Christmas may remain a Netflix world exclusive, though it would probably be useful to Sky to have some live content on this otherwise dead sports day (as an aside TNT have today confirmed the Ashes cricket again which has the Melbourne Test starting late on the 25th UK time).

There has been some references to Sky having 'more games than ever before' which is hard to understand as there are no new unique slots - so perhaps it is one or two more of the 14:30 Sunday international games?

And finally (on this avoid doing any work thought-splurge) I guess the Channel 5 deal will mean TV3/VM won't be getting shared coverage via their ITV link-up. I wonder if the NFL will approve the same sort of thing with an Irish broadcaster for London/Dublin games and the Super Bowl.

Hard Knocks training camp (this year is Buffalo Bills) starts on TNT tonight at 21:30. More a reflection that Sky/HBO no longer have a deal, rather than any indication that TNT are getting involved in the NFL season.

Chargers LT Rashawn Slater done for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon. Brutal.

Rough day yesterday. Anthony Richardson and Jared Verse also went down, severity yet unknown. A rookie CB on the Ravens suffered a gruesome leg injury too against the Colts - I suggest not looking for replays. Colts also lost their 3rd round pick to a torn ACL.

Daniel Jones time then. Poor f**kers!

Daniel Jones has been named the starter in Indy. Anthony Richardson is in trouble.

Hope it's better than the cowboys hard knocks, which was the most carefully curated team propaganda bore-fest in the history of that series.

Although of it is good it'll be a nice break from the current season of hard knocks, which is basically showcasing how pleasantly bland Josh Allen is. I miss when hard knocks used to follow roster bubble guys closely for a few weeks and build the tension towards when cuts came in the last episode. Nowadays it's always focused on the big stars who are very careful not to break from their PR facades (you'd miss Chad Johnson)