Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons has taken the league by storm since he was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL draft. The former Penn State Nittany Lions stud do-it-all defender has been nothing short of sensational since his arrival to the pros.
His play even has some drawing comparisons to NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, who in many ways changed the game from a pass rush/run stopping edge defender for the Bill Parcells- and Bill Belichick-led New York Giants.
In just 18 career games, the aforementioned Parsons has accrued 17 sacks and 92 tackles as he’s become a weekly game-wrecker in Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s fast flowing and aggressive scheme. The 2021 unanimous NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was as good as advertised his rookie season.
Those type numbers have him once again drawing comparisons to the aforementioned LT, who doesn’t need any introduction but those two letters. The latest to jump on the train is ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, an avid Cowboys hater, but he does recognize when a guy is special, as is Parson.
But LT special?
“Micah Parsons is the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, I’m gon’ say that. I just said it, I didn’t stutter. Micah Parsons is the second coming of Lawrence Taylor. That’s how big time that brother is,” Smith said.
But in typical SAS fashion, as relates to the Cowboys, he had to take a shot at them as well, following up his praise for Parsons with this comment:
“And he still ain’t gon’ lead them to the damn playoffs. … The fact of the matter is they ain’t winning the NFC East. I can assure you that. … As great as he is, he ain’t gonna be able to pull that off.”
That’s a big-time endorsement for Parsons, but I have my reservations as to why he’s wrong.
"Micah Parsons is the second coming of Lawrence Taylor. That's how big time that brother is!"
—@stephenasmith 😳 pic.twitter.com/G9qnqpy9db
— First Take (@FirstTake) September 20, 2022
LT Was Last Defensive Player To Win NFL MVP: That’s How Dominant He Was
Comparing Parsons to someone considered the greatest defensive player to ever play the game is a bit much. LT was so good he made Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs create a position called the “H-back” in an effort to help alleviate the pressure he put on opposing offensive tackles off the edge. While it helped, Taylor was still a menace and downright filthy in his approach.
Lawrence "LT" Taylor was the ultimate game changer for the @Giants. He anchored a 2-time Super Bowl champion defense 💪 @LT_56
(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/NhyBNilJfQ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 26, 2021
LT did his damage in an era where the run/pass ratio was 65-35. Meaning nearly seven out of ten times quarterbacks were handing off to a running back. In today’s era of football those numbers are completely reversed, meaning pass rushers have many more opportunities to make plays, accrue sacks and wreak havoc.
Parsons Talks The Talk — And Walks The Walk As Well
Parsons has never been low on confidence and swagger. From his time in high school when he was the No. 1 rated linebacker in his recruiting class, Parsons has demonstrated a confidence and belief that he’s the best player on the field. Following Sunday’s big win over the Bengals without star Dak Prescott, the loquacious Parsons had this to say.
“I mean, we had to be relentless today. I mean, knowing Dak is down, all the injuries, we had to step up as a defense. We are homing in on this year our defensive mentality. We’ve got to be relentless, hardworking, and bad mother — you know what I’m saying? So that’s been the mentality.”
It’s no doubt Parsons has the “it,” factor, but comparing him to LT is downright blasphemous.
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