Tony Romo reacts to Micah Parsons trade: 'I do think there's a chance both sides could win'

It seemed like everyone and their mother had an opinion about the seismic preseason trade that sent two-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers. Now, more than a week later, one former Cowboys star is finally providing some interesting insight into the deal rocked the NFL world.

CBS broadcaster Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, delivered a more nuanced take on the Parsons trade while covering the Packers’ season-opener vs. the rival Detroit Lions Sunday on CBS.

“I think it was a shock to everyone in Dallas and Green Bay. And initially, everyone knows you can’t rid of a player like this. And believe me, he is a game wrecker. There’s not many,” Romo said during the CBS broadcast. “The most important guy on the field is the quarterback. The second most important is the guy who effects the quarterback and he is definitely that guy. So to trade him means there obviously had to be a lot that went into it.

“I don’t think its ever just as simple as just this or that. But I will tell you, time will tell how this totally plays out on both sides, but I do think there’s a chance that both sides could win in the end.”

After contract negotiations with the Cowboys — and owner/general managers Jerry Jones — reached a point of no return, Parsons was granted his trade request when Dallas traded him to the Packers for nose tackle Kenny Clark and Green Bay’s first-round draft picks in the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts on Aug. 28.

Parsons quickly signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback with an average annual salary of $47 million. The contract also included $136 million in total guarantees.

Micah Parsons Packers debut: Green Bay fans give LB standing ovation in season-opener

The Green Bay Packers aren’t taking Micah Parsons for granted. When Parsons made his Packers debut on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the crowd erupted, raining down cheers on the three-time All-Pro.

Parsons’ first play for the Packers was a third-and-7 for the Lions. Despite being lined up against standout offensive lineman Penei Sewell, Parsons pressured Lions quarterback Jared Goff, forcing him to throw out wide, where other Packers defenders shut down the play.

Parsons isn’t playing every snap for the Packers on Sunday because he is still recovery from a back injury. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers were considering giving Parsons an injection before the game to help ease the pain of his L4/L5 facet joint sprain.

Parsons isn’t allowing the injury to prevent him from getting on the field. During his introductory press conference, Parsons downplayed the injury.

“Physically, I’m great,” Parsons said. “I think I can contribute a lot. I’m gonna team up with the doctors to create a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable.

“But my plan is to be here. They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that. So I’m finna give my all.”

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.