Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons voiced his displeasure with the officiating following the team’s narrow defeat to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, expressing his frustrations both to reporters and on social media.
Parsons specifically criticized the absence of holding penalties called against the Dolphins. According to the team’s website, he has now gone 38 consecutive quarters without drawing a holding penalty. Despite this, he has had an impressive season, amassing 13 sacks and 53 total tackles and tying his career-high with 30 quarterback hits.
Reflecting on the situation, Parsons remarked, “It’s mind-blowing, the things that are getting called, the positions we get put in. We just have to learn to fight the adversity and understand that a lot of it is BS. It’s football plays, but it’s the world we live in. We’ve got the star on the helmet.”
During the game, Parsons received a penalty for a hit on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He contested the call, stating, “[The official] said my intent was to punish the quarterback, but how am I trying to punish him if I’m just trying to sack him? It’s not like it’s a late hit. I didn’t leave my feet. I didn’t lead with my head. I don’t know how you make that call.”
Expressing frustration with the evolving interpretation of roughing the passer, Parsons added, “I got there so quick. How was I supposed to know he got the ball out? It was within a second. I didn’t leave my feet. I didn’t lead with my head, so I don’t know what a roughing the passer is anymore. In reality, I ran into D-Law. We both met at the quarterback. Like I said, it’s just hard to play defense.”
Taking to social media, Parsons posted a photo on his Instagram Stories depicting him attempting to break free from two Dolphins linemen, accompanied by the caption, “Free me dawg!!! Whatever I did to the officials, I’m sorry.”
The game’s decisive moment came when Miami kicker Jason Sanders secured a 22-20 victory in the closing seconds. Despite the controversial officiating, Parsons contributed seven tackles to the game.
