Dallas Cowboys do-it-all defender and reigning NFL DROY Micah Parsons has drawn comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor for his freakish athleticism and play. Parsons has been downright special in his first 19 NFL games, accumulating 17.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. His presence alone has helped the entire Cowboys defense under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn become a better unit. Parsons’ play hasn’t been without notice, as last week ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith called him the second coming of LT.
"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
New York Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has been hearing the noise, and, get this, he’s a fan of the former Penn State Nittany Lions star. But Taylor also let it be known that comparing Parsons to him isn’t something that should be happening.
Here are Taylor’s comments to the New York Post on the matter:
“I don’t know who the best defensive player is, but all I know is I’m always on the last page, of the last paragraph, of the last sentence when they say ‘the greatest of all time.’ Until somebody tells me different, I own it.”
Strong words from the man who’s arguably the game’s best and most dominant defensive player. His pass rush skill set forever changed the game and how the outside linebacker position is viewed from a pass rush standpoint. Taylor wrecked games weekly, and he did in an era where they only threw the football 35 percent of the time.
This has got to be one of the best flashback photos ever! #billparcells #lawrencetaylor #billbelichick #nygiants #FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/zTRp8yPqLj
— Lawrence ‘LT’ Taylor (@LT_56) January 26, 2019
Taylor Tells Parsons I’ll See What You Got Monday Night
The Giants host the Cowboys in a key NFC East tilt on ‘MNF,” and Taylor is gonna be on the sidelines supporting his guys in blue. He’s also gonna be watching to see what Parsons has live.
“I’m quite sure I’m gonna see what he’s got on Monday night, ‘cause I’ll be there. I haven’t analyzed it. But I will on Monday.”
Being watched by the guy Parsons is compared to, with that legend’s stature in the league’s hierarchy of defensive greats, should motivate the always-juiced-up Parsons. Even FS1 personality and fellow Taylor’s Pro Football Hall of Fame brother Shannon Sharpe thinks that could happen. On a recent episode of “Undisputed,” Sharpe elaborated on what he meant.
“This is a positive. This is Lawrence Taylor: the greatest defensive player. … And he’s coming to watch me? The position I play, he made it famous. All these other pass-rushers at the position … 56 is the guy.”
.@ShannonSharpe warns that Micah Parsons will show out vs. Giants with Lawrence Taylor in attendance:
“LT, the greatest defensive player of all-time is coming to watch Micah Parsons, he has to show out!….Daniel Jones, you’re in trouble.” pic.twitter.com/ImZRAfkJzz
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) September 22, 2022
Will Parsons Play? Listed As Questionable On Team’s Injury Report
Parsons has been dealing with an illness, and was limited in practice on Saturday after missing Thursday and Friday’s practice. The team listed him as questionable for Monday night’s big early season matchup.
One has to believe if Parsons is anywhere close to 100 percent he’s gonna give it a go. The Cowboys’ offense is pretty pedestrian, and their defense has carried them thus far. And it doesn’t get much bigger than “MNF” in NYC, especially with LT lurking the sidelines.
Read More TSL Stories:
“U See He Still Causing Problems”: Antonio Brown Takes Aim At Bruce Arians In Wake Of Evans-Gate
