By Adeniyi Precious 
Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie contract—a fifth-year option worth $24 million. But as one of the NFL’s top defenders, he’s eyeing a massive long-term deal, reportedly around $40 million per year.
On Tuesday, rumors started swirling that Parsons and the Cowboys were close to finalizing an extension. However, NFL Network’s Jane Slater shut that down, saying there haven’t even been “meaningful talks” yet.
“There’s chatter on Twitter about a contract extension being finalized. I checked. Not only is it NOT done, but meaningful talks haven’t even started,” Slater reported.
Naturally, Cowboys fans had a lot to say.
“Jerry likes to wait until July when sports are dead so he can be the top story on First Take,” one fan joked.
“Let Micah walk and I’m out too. I can only take so much,” another vented.
“What are they waiting for, bro?” a frustrated fan asked.
Parsons’ stats speak for themselves—52.5 sacks, 256 tackles, and 112 QB hits in just four seasons. At 25, he already has a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, two First-Team All-Pro selections, and four Pro Bowls under his belt.
Despite the lack of progress, Parsons remains optimistic. Last month, he said the Cowboys have a “plan in place” for his extension.
“I have a lot of respect for Jerry [Jones]. We have great conversations. There’s definitely a plan, but we’ll see how it plays out,” Parsons said. “No progress yet, but I’m confident something will happen.”
For now, Cowboys fans will have to wait and hope their star defender doesn’t slip away.