"Who the hell does Micah Parsons think he is": Former NFL star sounds off at Cowboys LB's comment on Mike McCarthy
The NFL world was abuzz on Monday after Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons made some interesting comments about head coach Mike McCarthy. This followed the team's lopsided 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Former NFL offensive lineman Damien Woody was quick to call out Parsons, stating the young star of crossing a line with his public criticism of his head coach. Speaking on ESPN's "Get Up" today, Woody expressed his displeasure with Parsons' postgame remarks:
"I've never heard anyone say anything remotely like that after a game. ... Who the hell does Micah Parsons think he is talking like that after a game? When you've been missing all these games with an injury and last time I checked, head coach is a Super Bowl-winning coach.
"And I know the season hasn't gone the way everyone expected it to go, but for you to sit there in the locker room right after your team gets pummeled and to just undress your head coach in that manner?"
Woody, who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, believes Micah Parsons crossed a line by publicly questioning McCarthy's leadership and effort, especially with the veteran coach in the final year of his contract.
When asked about McCarthy's future with the team post-game, 2021 All-Pro Parsons said the decision on the coach's status was "above my pay grade." He then made the following comments about the veteran coach:
"Mike can leave and go wherever he wants. The guys I kind of feel bad for is guys like Zack Martin who might be on their last year or on their way out, because that's who I wanted to hold the trophy for," Parsons said. "You want to win games and do great things with those types of legends who put in more time and work than Mike McCarthy ever did."
Damien Woody laments loss of decorum after Micah Parsons' comments
Damien Woody also said that Mike McCarthy is "busting his a*s every single day to try to go out there and get a win." Woody asked Micah Parsons to maintain the respect of the locker room, something that he thinks is lacking at the moment:
"Cos that's what's going on with all these podcast boys out here in the locker room, they wanna spout and say all type of stuff, there used to be a time when there was a little bit of respect, a little decorum in the locker room."
"Because at the end of the day, it's about 'we,' 'we didn't do enough' - y'all got your a*ses kicked. You're going to go out here and talk about your head coach not working, not doing anything to prepare the team? That's a bunch of BS."
The debate sparked by Micah Parsons' comments touches on a growing tension in the modern NFL. Some players seem more willing to openly criticize their coaches, even successful ones like Mike McCarthy.
While the Cowboys' season has certainly been disappointing, Woody comments suggest there are proper channels for addressing those issues behind closed doors, rather than in front of the media.