DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson has taken the NFL by storm during his rookie season, cementing himself as, not just a rookie of the year candidate, but as arguably the favorite for defensive player of the year as well.
So how has he been seeing so much early success? Well, according to Parsons himself, playing in the NFL just really isn't all that hard.
"I don’t really think the NFL is hard," Parsons said, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Those are surprising words coming from the rookie, with the NFL being widely regarded as the most physically demanding and punishing of any professional sport.
Despite that, Parsons has shined, sitting second on the team with 75 tackles, first in sacks with 12 (nearly an NFL rookie record), three forced fumbles, and a team-high 17 tackles for loss in 13 games.
Parsons would later clarify his comments, and explain his position, noting that, given the talent that he faces on a daily basis in practice, it is no surprise that he has developed so quickly.
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“I think they got some really great players around here," Parsons said. "But I just think it’s a bunch of players that work really hard, and I think it rubs off whenever you play guys like La’el [Collins in practice]. When I’m going against La’el and I’m challenging him every down, saying, ‘What could I do there? How can I make this better?’ Or I’m going against Zack [Martin], and I’m just getting those opportunities, it really just makes those guys [on other teams] not look as good.”
The most impressive thing about this for Parsons? He has been spending a good amount of his time in recent weeks as a pass rusher -- something he was not brought into this league to do.
If he can keep this kind of production up, Parsons is on pace to finish with one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, regardless of position.
And after that, there is no telling how high his talent ceiling goes.
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