Micah Parsons has only played five games in the green and gold, but the Green Bay Packers have already noticed what Dallas Cowboys fans complained about for years. Sunday's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals made it even clearer: missed holding calls are limiting Parsons's potential.
Head coach Matt LaFleur had a few things to say about the unfair rulings that seemed to restrict Parsons's effectiveness against the Bengals, claiming that "There are some that are egregious and I think those needed to be called."
LaFleur elaborated on his and Parsons's feelings about the trend, noting that Micah is frustrated as well by the blatant misses.
Packers remain at a disadvantage with refs missing blatant penalties on Micah Parsons
Missed calls aren't a new dilemma for the two-time Pro Bowler. In December 2023, after Micah went on a 38-quarter streak without drawing a single holding call, the Cowboys sent detailed explanations to the NFL regarding numerous plays that should have resulted in an offensive penalty.
At the time, Parsons claimed his speed was the reason for the lack of calls, explaining, "I think the refs understand that I'm a good player, but they don't understand the actual plays that I can make with my speed and what I can control."
READ MORE: Patrick Mahomes just called out what Packers fans already knew about Lions
Parsons's speed is one of the key traits that led to him being selected 12th overall by Dallas, and later made him worth giving up two future first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark in the trade that brought him to Green Bay. He ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time among linebackers at the 2021 combine.
Parsons was lined up against Bengals LT Orlando Brown for most of the game, and a few of their reps have gained traction online. Fans can watch Brown wrap his arm around the pass rusher, hold his jersey from behind, and even take him to the ground.
While it's unreasonable (and not very fun) to hope that every penalty that occurs in a game gets called, there have been concerns about unfair rulings against Micah in the past. With any luck, LaFleur's comments will cause NFL officiating to take a second look at how Parsons is being treated by opposing O-linemen, and the defensive star can have a better shot at disrupting offenses.