Rex Ryan didn’t hold back his criticism of Micah Parsons following the Dallas Cowboys’ latest loss. During Monday’s episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” both the former New York Jets head coach and ex-offensive lineman Damien Woody called out the Cowboys’ star linebacker for his comments about Dallas’ coaching staff after their 34-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Parsons, speaking after the game, expressed his sympathy for veteran players on the Cowboys as the team’s season continues to spiral out of control. However, he seemed to take a dig at head coach Mike McCarthy, questioning his effort in comparison to that of his teammates.
“You’re giving up family time, you’re giving up all kinds of stuff in your life, and you’re gonna get some ass— I don’t care how talented he is, that is absolutely BS,” Ryan said, referencing Parsons’ recent injury that kept him sidelined for four games. “If you would’ve worked half as frickin’ hard as a damn coach does, maybe you’d be able to play every damn game. Maybe your team wouldn’t just be a bunch of punks and lay down every week like you’re doing. How about being a damn football team? You’re going to sell your damn coach out. It’s a crock of sh… you know what.”
The Cowboys, now sitting at 3-6, are struggling under McCarthy, and speculation is mounting that these could be his final games with the franchise, especially with Dak Prescott’s season potentially over. The players are surely aware that McCarthy’s future is uncertain, but Parsons’ comments about his coach’s future still raised eyebrows.
McCarthy is in the final year of his contract, and his retention following last season was already a controversial decision, given that the Cowboys ended their postseason run with a blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers. When asked about McCarthy’s future after Sunday’s loss, Parsons made it clear that the decision was beyond his control.
“That’s above my pay grade, about if Mike’s coaching again next year,” Parsons said. “All coaching aside, Mike can leave and go wherever he wants. Guys I kind of feel bad for are guys like [guard] Zack Martin and others who might be on their last year, on their way out, because that’s who I wanted to hold the trophy for. 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. So those are the kind of guys that I have so much sympathy and hurt for.”
Rex Ryan, who also coached the Buffalo Bills after his time with the Jets ended in 2014, tore into Parsons during Monday’s segment, showing that he still knows how to deliver a fiery critique when necessary. Ryan took particular issue with Parsons’ suggestion that McCarthy’s dedication was somehow lacking compared to others.
“That’s total BS,” Ryan said. “Coaches are there, some days, 20 hours a day, for two or three days at least during the week. The hours they put in — it’s unmatched. Mike McCarthy, he doesn’t deserve this damn comment. He doesn’t. No coach does. There are some horrible coaches out there, but none of them deserve this, given the kind of work they put in. I’m just telling you.”
Damien Woody, who played for the Patriots, Jets, and Lions during his 12-year NFL career, echoed Ryan’s sentiments and said that he had never heard a player make similar comments about their coach after a game. Woody then took aim at Parsons for having his own podcast, “The Edge with Micah Parsons,” suggesting that the platform emboldens him to say controversial things without fully considering the consequences.
“Who the hell does Micah Parsons think he is, talking like that after a game? Bro, you’ve been missing all these games with an injury, and last time I checked, the head coach is a Super Bowl-winning coach,” Woody said. “I know the season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected, but for you to sit there in the locker room right after your team gets pummeled and to just undress your coaching in that manner — see, that’s what’s going on with all these podcast boys out here in the locker room. They want to spout and say all this type of stuff.”
Woody continued, contrasting today’s players with those of previous generations and highlighting the lack of respect shown by Parsons.
“There used to be a time when there was a little bit of respect and decorum in the locker room because, at the end of the day, it was about ‘we.’ We didn’t do enough. All of y’all got your asses kicked, OK?” Woody said. “And you’re going to go out here and talk about your head coach, basically saying your head coach is not working, not doing his thing to try to prepare the team? I just think it’s a bunch of BS, man. I really do.
“We can sit here and laugh and all that stuff, but that’s disrespectful, what Micah Parsons did to Mike McCarthy in that situation. I know, again, it’s not the results Mike McCarthy wants, but I know that man is busting his ass every single day to try to go out there and get a win. And here one of your star players comes out there and says that? Come on, man, I can’t ride with that.”
The Cowboys will have a chance to get back on track next Monday night at home against the Houston Texans, but the tension within the team is undeniable.
Fellow ESPN personality Chris Russo even weighed in, expressing his lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming game. As the Cowboys try to salvage what’s left of their season, they’ll need unity — something that seems increasingly in short supply as frustrations boil over.
