The Cowboys were given a chance to negotiate with Micah Parsons this week. They declined.

That’s Parsons’ version in an interview with Jane Slater of NFL Media.

The star edge rusher told Slater that he and his representation went back to the Cowboys with “empathy” this week when trade interest was leaked. The Cowboys’ response, according to Parsons, was for him to “play on the fifth-year [option] or leave.”

Thus, he chose to leave, and, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, will get $62 million in the first new year of the deal, $120 million fully guaranteed and a total of $136 million guaranteed — all records for non-quarterbacks. Parsons would have made either $21 million or $24 million on the fifth-year option depending on how a grievance played out.

It was a win for Parsons. It was a

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