Micah Parsons’ influence in the locker room while playing for the Dallas Cowboys has been questioned in recent months. However, one NFL analyst believes that Parsons has been wrongfully criticized.

After Parsons left for the Green Bay Packers last season, there were rumors of issues within the Cowboys locker room. However, Locked on Packers analyst Peter Bukowski has expressed his opinion and does not believe Parsons was an issue.

“I won’t pretend to be hyper aware of everything that went on in Dallas the last few seasons,” wrote Bukowski on his personal X account on July 5. “But my reaction based on a year of Micah Parsons in Green Bay is if he was a problem in the locker room, the locker room was the real issue, not Parsons.”

Parsons has been one of the best edge rushers in the league since he got drafted 12th overall by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft. Having all but one of his 77 games in his career so far, he has never had a season with fewer than 12 sacks.

He’s accumulated 297 combined tackles, 139 quarterback hits, and 65 sacks in five seasons while also being named to the All-Pro team thrice and selected to the Pro Bowl five times.

After four years with the Cowboys, the team and player were not able to reach an agreement on a contract extension. This prompted Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to trade him to the Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. Parsons then signed a four-year, $188 million contract with the Packers in August, 2025.

Bukowski's take on Parsons is surprising after the reports that did the rounds last offseason.

Parsons’ podcast was named as a major reason for locker room issues

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Parsons had issues with Cowboys teammates, which played a role in his eventual trade.

“Parsons, who has rankled teammates in different ways, seen by some as egotistical and self-centered,” reported Breer. “His podcast has created issues, too, that go all the way up to quarterback Dak Prescott.”

He was not the only analyst to report so, as NFL Network insider Jane Slater also reported that teammates were tired of Parsons’ media presence. She also reported how some teammates also felt that Parsons did not love football during a segment on Good Morning Football on August 29, 2025. 

Even with an ACL injury, Parsons has had a more successful stretch since the trade than the Cowboys, who missed the playoffs again and ranked among the league's poorest defensive teams last season.

What are your thoughts on Bukowski's take? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar