Micah Parsons trade: Cam Newton claims Green Bay Packers are not the top team in NFC North after move

After months of speculation, the Dallas Cowboys shocked the entire sports world Thursday night when they traded three-time All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. This came after the Cowboys and Parsons (and his agent) were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal, leading to him asking for a trade.

Green Bay and Parsons’ agent worked quickly on a deal, which made the Penn State alum the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the National Football League. Parsons put pen to paper on a 4-year, $188 million contract Thursday night.

This move has led many to tab Green Bay as one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LX, alongside the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. Former NFL MVP Cam Newton, however, shut down those talks on Friday morning’s edition of ‘First Take,’ as he claimed that the Packers still aren’t even the best team in the NFC North.

Cam Newton isn’t quite sold on Green Bay… yet

“Absolutely not,” Newton responded when asked if Green Bay should be in the NFC Championship Game this season. “Because I don’t even think that they’re the best team in their division. They’re not better with Detroit, even after this Micah Parsons pick. They’re not better than Detroit and you can’t say it with a straight face that they are. You’re not willing to take Detroit Lions over the Green Bay Packers, so for me yes. Are the Green Bay Packers the youngest team in the NFL? Absolutely. Is Micah Parsons still a young player? Absolutely. These are things that you can grow and build upon.

“But when you’re saying ‘they’re instant Super Bowl contenders,’ no. Not so fast. I’m not going for that. Now one truth you did say, within the next three years absolutely. You have all types of combinations of young players and young talent and you can go out and necessarily need to do. But they still have to perform. I’m not looking at Green Bay as a threat to Philly when Green Bay is not even a true threat or they have to go through Detroit to be a threat to Philly.”

Since Green Bay last won a Super Bowl in 2010 (XLV), it has made 11 playoff appearances and three NFC Championship Games. The Packers have, however, failed to reach the pinnacle of the sport since their win in 2010. With Parsons teaming up with Rashan Gary on the defense, however, Matt LeFleur‘s team will certainly have as good a shot as anybody this season to punch their ticket to Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX.