Micah Parsons will face his previous team in Week 4 as a member of the Green Bay Packers. He'll play against the Dallas Cowboys for the first time since the stunning trade that sent him to Titletown on August 28. And by the sound of it, the superstar pass rusher has had this moment circled on the calendar.
Parsons isn't so much focused on his highly anticipated return to Dallas. Nevertheless, he's ostensibly eager to line up against the Cowboys comrades who went to battle with him, specifically quarterback Dak Prescott.
In an interview with the Associated Press' Rob Maaddi, Parsons talked about the idea of taking down Prescott in the forthcoming Packers-Cowboys clash. It won't be malicious, but Dallas' signal-caller figures to (literally) take the brunt of the well-chronicled breakup between his ex-teammate and employer.
Micah Parsons won't hold back on Dak Prescott in highly anticipated Packers-Cowboys clash
"It’s going to be painful," Parsons said regarding sacking Prescott on Sunday Night Football. "That's my guy. He was always like a good mentor for me. But you know how it is ..."
Mutual respect, admiration and friendship aside, Parsons and Prescott are fierce competitors. That fighting spirit and drive are part of what make them elite athletes. With that in mind, the latter has repeatedly urged the former not to hold back if they ever go toe-to-toe.
" ... [Prescott] always told me if I ever faced him that it'll be a great matchup, so I'm excited to see what Sunday brings itself," Parsons voiced.
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A wide range of emotions will be coursing through AT&T Stadium with the Packers on tap. Cowboys Nation may be happy to see Parsons, though that could quickly change when he single-handedly wrecks Dallas' offensive game plan. He'll presumably be ready to stick it to anyone with a star on their helmet, even a close confidante like Prescott.
Despite the buzz surrounding Parsons coming back to Jerry World, the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate sees it as "just another game." The press gobbles up revenge narratives, yet he has a different perspective on the matter.
"I accepted my fate weeks ago when the trade happened," Parsons voiced. "So for me, it's just all about playing another game and just doing what I do best, and that's just be a disruptive football player. I think the media and the fans are trying to blow it up to be such a big thing."