Cowboys' Micah Parsons compares himself to lions on a safari

Dallas Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons is used to attracting attention from opposing offenses and is embracing such challenges heading into his third NFL season. 

"If you go to a safari, you see buses pull up on lions, and the lion never flinches," Parsons explained during a charity event, per Gabriel Trevino of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Why? Because they’re king. They’re not going to flinch. Please come visit, you’re more than welcome. I’m OK with feeling uncomfortable. That’s how you evolve." 

Parsons officially entered the NFL when Dallas made him the No. 12 overall pick of the 2021 draft and quickly evolved into a feared talent. He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and is already a two-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time First-Team All-Pro. According to ESPN stats, Parsons ended last regular season seventh among all players with 13.5 sacks. 

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley previously referred to Parsons as arguably "the best player in the league," and some have compared the 24-year-old to Giants legend and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. Parsons isn't yet the game-changing force Taylor was in his prime, but the third-year pro hopes bulking up from 245 pounds last year to around 255 pounds by September will allow him to make a leap as he looks to follow in Taylor's footsteps. 

"Different things like that add into the things that help you become a better player," Parsons said about improving his home gym and adding a sauna this offseason. "Because not everything is going to be at work, you have to do some stuff at home too." 

Parsons is also thinking beyond just 2023 and noted he's adding positive weight to "stay as healthy as possible" and avoid "nagging injuries" that can shorten careers. His first opportunity to display his upgraded physique against a live offense in meaningful action will come when he and the Cowboys travel to open the regular season at the Giants on Sept. 10.