'Micah Rules'? Jerry Suggests Tweaked Officiating For Cowboys' Star
In the midst of a late-season slump that has all but sealed the Dallas Cowboys' fate as a Wild Card in the upcoming NFC playoffs, owner Jerry Jones is joining the chorus of the team's fans in partially blaming the referees.
Defensive star Micah Parsons has only produced half of a sack in the last two losses at Buffalo and Miami, and fans have resorted to posting photos and videos on social media of what they claim are numerous instances and plays where he was blatantly held without a holding penalty. To their point, Parsons - again in the conversation for NFL Defensive Player of the Year - hasn't drawn a holding penalty by an opposing player since Oct. 16.
Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the football against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
"It's mind-blowing," Parsons said of the non-calls after the 22-20 loss to the Dolphins on Christmas Eve. "I know a lot of it is (bleep), but it's the world we live in. We've got the star on our helmet ... it's just hard to play defense."
Jones took the complaints to another level on his weekly radio show on 105.3 The Fan Tuesday morning, suggesting the league's competition committee should look at tweaking its rules for holding because of Parsons' unique skills.
"(The rules) aren't working for Micah ... he's having restrictions," Jones said. "If turned loose, it would result in sacks of the quarterback. This isn't the first time penalties need to be defined by the unique skills of a player. This one has to be worked through."
Jones' opinion is that referees are essentially putting human guidelines on the superhuman Parsons, who - if not held - could get to the quarterback.
"I don't think the intent (by the officials) is to take a player of his skill and limit him," Jones said. "But one of the judgement issues here is that they won't call a holding penalty, usually, if they don't think the player would have gotten to the quarterback. That doesn't work with Micah. He's about to get there almost all the time, at the snap of the ball. Anything limits him ... that's a hold."
