Dallas City News

The Dallas Cowboys played their first game of the 2024 season on Sunday, and it went just as planned. They dominated the Cleveland Browns in all three phases en route to a 33-17 win. There was another first during this contest, and that was the NFL broadcasting debut of Tom Brady, who most consider to be the greatest quarterback in league history. So, if anyone knows football, it’s him, right?

Once the game concluded, Brady gave out his first Player of the Game award. He gave it to none other than the Cowboys leader on defense, All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.

Brady would get an opportunity to talk to Parsons after the game, and he was extremely complementary, of course.

Micah, what a game by you, the entire defensive line, but I get an opportunity to give one award to a player a week, and you get the LFG Player of the Game. What a game you played. It’s fun being up here and not having you chase me around. So, to see you from this perspective, man, you played a great game today. You impacted the game in rushing. You get so many double teams out there, but you still find a way to make an impact. Way to go.

The former first-round pick did exactly that in Cleveland.

Parsons was excited before the season commenced at the idea of being used even more as a chess piece under new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. He was all over the place against the Browns playing on the edge, on the interior, and occasionally dropping into the second level. Parsons finished with four tackles (one tackle for loss), a sack, nine pressures, and a pass breakup that led directly to an interception.

There’s history between Brady and Parsons. They played against each other twice in the regular season during the first two seasons of Parsons career. Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won both. However, Parsons and the Cowboys defeated Brady in the 2022 playoffs, which ended up being his final game in the NFL. In those three games, Parsons had three sacks on Brady, which makes it understandable why he said he’s glad to be on the other side now.

After getting his flowers, Parsons thank Brady for the honor.

I appreciate that TB, man. I take everything you told me over this offseason, man, just trying to use it and force it in this game, and I appreciate this word, bro. It means a lot from you.

The Cowboys have their home opener next Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, who put up 47 points against the Carolina Panthers in their Week 1 win. Another big-time performance by Parsons will be needed to get the Cowboys off to a fast 2-0 start.