Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has responded to criticism from his teammate, Malik Hooker, who questioned Parsons’ priorities ahead of the upcoming NFL season. Hooker, a safety for the Cowboys, suggested that Parsons should focus more on the team’s issues on the field rather than his podcasting endeavors.
In a recent episode of the ‘All Facts no Brakes’ podcast, hosted by former pro Bowler Keyshawn Johnson, Hooker expressed his concerns about Parsons’ commitment to the team. He implied that Parsons’ time could be better spent addressing the team’s “terrible” run game instead of investing time in his podcast.
“My advice to Micah would be to make sure we’re all on the same page and that he’s present where his feet are,” Hooker said. “If we’re out working and our run game is struggling, but he’s doing a podcast every week, it makes you wonder what his priorities are. Is he more concerned about the audience of his podcast or the team’s success and our Super Bowl aspirations?”
Parsons, who launched his own podcast, ‘The Edge with Micah Parsons,’ in 2023, and also serves as the president of Bleacher Report’s Gridiron division, didn’t shy away from addressing Hooker’s comments.
Cowboys safety Malik Hooker expressed his concerns about Parsons’ priorities
Parsons took to social media to respond to Hooker, expressing his disappointment that Hooker chose to voice his opinions publicly instead of addressing them privately. “Just wish you said this to me instead of on some podcast,” Parsons wrote in a now-deleted post, as reported by the Dallas Morning News. “You have my number, and we’re locker mates! You could’ve said this to me any day.” Parsons also pointed out that he shoots his podcast on their off-day and questioned why Hooker wasn’t addressing the preparation and focus of the entire team.
Hooker attempted to de-escalate the situation by referring to Parsons as his “Little Bro” and asserting that “his podcast isn’t hurting anything.” He also added that Parsons understood his intentions and that there was no need to create further drama.
Parsons and Hooker during the NFC Wild Card game in 2022
The exchange between Parsons and Hooker comes after Parsons opted to skip most of the voluntary offseason program with the Cowboys. Parsons, the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Pro, believes that his absence from the locker room doesn’t hinder his ability to build chemistry with his teammates. He asserts that he still finds time to connect with them outside of designated team activities.
Parsons has been keeping busy during the offseason, including a goodwill tour for the NFL in China, where he met with Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and engaged in sumo wrestling. The Cowboys will begin their training camp in California later this month, from July 23 to August 22, as they prepare for their season opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.
