'Micah is Shaq': Our Theory As Cowboys' Parsons 'Humbly' Argues for Calls

FRISCO - We have recently conjured up a theory as to why Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons doesn't get the holding calls from officials that he believes have been earned.

No, there is no "anti-Cowboys'' or "anti-Micah'' conspiracy here. And yes, it could be chalked up to general incompetence.

But try this on for size: In the same way that Shaquille O'Neal's entry into the NBA caused referees to be overwhelmed by his physical dominance, today's NFL refs simply cannot keep up with what Parsons is doing with his physical dominance.

And Parsons - not specifically to our "Micah is Shaq'' theory, but more generally, seems to agree.

"I think the refs understand that I’m a good player but they don’t understand the actual plays that I can make with my speed and what I can control,'' Parsons said. "To be honest - and in the most humble way ever - I don’t think there’s another rusher like me in the league. I don’t think there is a rusher that wins as quick as I do. There’s not another rusher that does the things that I do.''

Is that bragging? Not when viewed through the "Micah is Shaq'' prism.

In fairness, every other top-notch pass-rusher in the NFL - TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Khalil Mack, Nick Bosa, all of them - are registering similar complaints.

But consider this: Micah, with 13 sacks on his way to a third All-Pro season in his three years in the NFL and maybe on his way to the Defensive Player of the Year award, is 6-3 and 250 and runs a 4.3 40. He is getting to his spot and beating his man so quickly that officials cannot quite keep up.

Just like Shaq played "windshield'' while causing defenders to look like "bugs.''

The NBA eventually allowed zone defenses ... because there was no other way to stop O'Neal, who at 7-1 and 330 pounds was unlike anything the NBA (and maybe sports) had ever seen. The NBA also changed the way backboards are designed (making them less easily breakable on a Shaq power dunk), changed its 3-seconds in the lane rules, and lessened the effectiveness of "Hack-a-Shaq,'' which by design would force O'Neal to get his points at the free-throw line instead of on a dunk.

It's because of George Mikan that the NBA has a 24-second shot clock. It's because of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alcindor) that the NCAA banned dunks! And of course, it's because of Cowboys legend Bob Hayes that NFL teams devised zone defenses.

'Micah Rules'? Jerry Suggests Tweaked Officiating For Cowboys' Star

Does the NFL need "The Micah Rules''? We find our theory to be much more viable that the rants that insist that the NFL is "fixing'' games to cause Cowboys failure. "Micah as Shaq'' is worth the NFL's investigative efforts.