Stephen A. Smith: Stephen Jones has ‘no right’ to question if Micah Parsons wants to get paid

Stephen A. Smith was back on First Take on Monday morning. And unsurprisingly, ESPN’s $100 million man was talking about the Dallas Cowboys.

Specifically Micah Parsons, who remains without a contract extension as he enters the final season of his rookie deal. And when it comes to Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones’ recent stance that the All-Pro pass-rusher has “got to want to be paid too,” Smith didn’t mince words.

“That is one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever heard come out of the mouth of an NFL executive,” Smith said.

The 57-year-old proceeded to rattle off Parsons’ resume, including the fact that he’s missed just four games due to injury throughout the first four seasons of his NFL career. Ultimately, there’s no reason for anyone to question the Penn State product’s desire to be one of the highest — if not the highest — paid players at his position. Especially not an executive who is primarily in the position he’s in because his father happens to be Jerry Jones.

“He not only deserves his paper, he deserves better respect than the owner and the co-owner and [CEO] that is Stephen Jones is giving him,” Smith said of Parsons. “By the way, Stephen Jones, respect to you my brother, but if it wasn’t for your daddy, would you be a [CEO] in the NFL? Did you want the job? Did you earn it? Come on now. Hey, I’m back. It’s the truth. I ain’t knocking it. Every parent is entitled to look out for their child. But it’s important that the child recognizes you were born on third base. Don’t act like you hit a triple.

“And that’s what needs to be said here. Stephen Jones doesn’t have any right to be sayings something like that to Micah Parsons. Respectfully, sir. And I respect Stephen Jones. But that was crossing the line. He got no right to say that about him. None.”

Stephen A. Smith on Stephen Jones saying Micah Parsons has “got to want to be paid too”:

“That is one of the most ignorant statements I’ve ever heard come out of the mouth of an NFL executive… Stephen Jones, respect to you my brother, but if it wasn’t for your daddy, would you… pic.twitter.com/5Ww7KkyTNf

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 28, 2025

While Smith’s commentary on the Cowboys is typically theatrical, this seemed to be an instance of the former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist giving his authentically honest take. And it’s frankly tough to disagree with his stance that Jones’ comment was out of line — especially when factoring in the optics of the statement coming from the owner’s son.

So long as Parsons remains without a new deal, the 4-time Pro Bowl selection figures to remain one of the primary topics of conversation on shows such as First Take. Especially if Cowboys ownership continues to publicly comment on the matter, which is perhaps the only certainty of this entire situation.