Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shuts down trade talks surrounding DE Micah Parsons

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones recently became a member 105.3 The fan (KRLD-FM) to discuss Micah Parsons trade rumors, DaRon Bland’s injury progression and more.

Here are some highlights, edited for length and clarity:

Micah Parsons said he was flattered that so many people were talking about his trade value last week. Has his name ever come up or been discussed as a potential trade candidate?

Jerry Jones: “No. Absolutely not.”

So teams don’t call you, Jerry? Have teams called and seen you?

Jones: “Well, first of all, I wouldn’t do that because we want Micah Parsons. He is an integral part of our future. So ‘no’ is the big answer. What if I came here on the phone and picked the best player in the league, three or four, you know what I would get if I picked up the phone and said, ‘Do you want to trade him?’ A big ‘no’, are you kidding? The thing is, we didn’t do that and that didn’t happen. We haven’t had one conversation, one conversation at the level that counts, which is my level and with Stephen (Jones) and Will (McClay) and people like that. But we’ve never had a conversation about not having Micah Parsons on the team. Ever.”

Can you tell us more about that? What’s going on with DaRon Bland? A few weeks ago it looked like he was ready. He suffered a setback. How big has the setback been since he still hasn’t practiced all these weeks later?

Jones: “We never do that, regardless of technicality or how someone evaluates their injury, or the progress they’re making, or what they should be making. It’s a big swing between players when it comes to the same injury when they’re ready to go. We never ignore the number 1 consideration, whether in-game or out-of-game or for the duration of several weeks, which is how the player feels? How does he feel? Can he rely on it? Does he push it? Is he free to cut back on it? Where is he going? Because in the end that is all that matters.

“I have seen players with unrepaired injuries go out and randomly play with an unrepaired injury and play more aggressively and faster than players whose injuries have been repaired. And they are still careful about it. That says nothing at all about the quality of the individual or the player.”

Just like last year, you have Kellen Moore on the other side of the ball. What did you like about Kellen when he was here and how have you seen him grow since he left?

Jones: “Well, Kellen was such an excellent player in college. So he was so successful in college and he did as well as anything with his knowledge. He’s the son of a coach who really coached and he really had a great college career. He uses the same thing that made him an excellent college quarterback and an excellent college offensive player. He uses that in his coaching. That’s quite a lead. When you have these guys who have played a key position, like quarterback on offense, and he’s also had some really top coordinators. The time he spent here with Mike (McCarthy) has only enhanced his coaching skills in my opinion.

“He will be here for a long time. He is an excellent coach and he will be formidable as an offensive coordinator against us.”

Listen to the rest of Jones’ radio appearance here.

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