Jordan Love handed the Dallas Cowboys a playoff exit so devastating that it still haunts Jerry Jones to this day. Now, Love is ready for Round 2.
Several NFL reporters, including Ian Rapoport, have raised Green Bay Packers fans' hopes over a potential blockbuster trade for Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons. Love appeared on Up & Adams and, although said with his tongue firmly in his cheek, he delivered a mission statement that will give Cowboys fans more nightmares.
"I talked to Micah this offseason. We did a podcast together. I talked to him, I recruited him a little bit," Love told Kay Adams.
Love jokingly pushed back on Adams' comment that his playoff performance ruined any hopes of the Cowboys trading Parsons to the Packers. She later noted that Green Bay had the cap space to make it work, to which Love chose his words carefully and responded, "We'll see."
Jordan Love wants Packers to break Cowboys' hearts again with a trade for Micah Parsons
It's true that Jones may be reluctant to trade his best player to an NFC rival that inflicted a playoff defeat on his Cowboys that, in his own words, hurt "more than any one we've ever had."
It makes sense. The Cowboys held the No. 2 seed, had won 16 games in a row at AT&T Stadium, and swaggered into the playoffs with the No. 5-ranked defense. Love strolled in, threw for 272 yards, three touchdowns, and a near-perfect 157.2 rating, taking the Packers up 48-16 early in the fourth quarter. In his first playoff start, no less.
The NFC playoff picture hasn't heard from the Cowboys since.
But Adams is also right that, if the Cowboys soften their stance on trading Parsons, the Packers have the resources to make a strong offer. Cap space? Check? Draft capital? Players to include in a package? Yes and yes.
And if Love has anything to do with it, he'll convince Parsons to come to Green Bay. The two are good friends, and Parsons would surely want to join a contender.
He could elevate Green Bay to Super Bowl heights, especially if the Packers could make a deal without including any star defensive players (which may be difficult).
While Love's comments were lighthearted, there's no doubt he'd want Parsons in Green Bay. Who wouldn't? And if the Cowboys push the door open even slightly, you can bet Love's recruitment mission will resume.
Aaron Rodgers spent a career making Cowboys fans miserable. Love followed it by handing them a historically painful playoff exit on his first attempt.
His next move could make that seem like nothing.