At this point, it’s hard to find a Jerry Jones interview that doesn’t have a Micah Parsons mention. Recently, Jones made headlines for calling out Parsons for lying on a training table during a preseason game. Everyone thought that was the end of the Jones-Parsons saga. But of course, this is Jerry Jones we’re talking about. He once again shocked fans when reports surfaced that the Cowboys included a “poison pill” clause in Parsons’ trade. Now, Jones wants to clear the air about the “sneaky” move.

“It has its own definition. We didn’t want, without consideration, Parsons going to a team we were going to play twice a year. I think that says it all right there,” Jones said on the 105.3 The Fan podcast when asked about the “poison pill” clause of Parsons’ trade to Green Bay. The clause contains certain provisions that suggest that Micah Parsons lives rent-free in Jerry Jones’ head.

The clause prevents the Packers from trading Parsons to any NFC East rival. Which means no chances of Parsons landing in the Eagles, Commanders, or the Giants squad at least until 2027. Even if Green Bay thinks about it, they would have to “hand over” their 2028 first-round pick to the Cowboys as payback.

Seems like Jones is keeping Parson himself from getting into enemy territory. Real bounty hunting for Jones this time.

The move is clearly designed to keep Parsons far away from division foes, especially the reigning Super Bowl champions. But let’s not make the 83-year-old the supervillain here. He only used the Packers’ 17-year-old trick on themselves this time.

When Green Bay used the “poison pill” clause

The 2008 “poison pill” clause between the Packers and the Jets still stands as one of the earliest and wildest trade safeguards in NFL history. When Green Bay shipped Brett Favre to New York, they slipped in this clever move that restricted the Jets from flipping to any NFC North rival… especially the Vikings. And even if they dared, the Jets would have owed the Packers three first-round picks.

This was rather a genius move by Green Bay, aimed at keeping Favre far from Minnesota after the Packers already handed the offense to Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings wanted him badly, but the Packers weren’t letting their old QB come back and haunt them twice a year. But if you think this was the only brutality against the Vikings in NFL trade history, you are highly mistaken.

The 2006 NFL’s infamous “poison pill” clause was pure theatre to witness. Minnesota went all in on Seattle‘s All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson, offering him a seven-year $49 million deal. This was a fully guaranteed deal if he wasn’t the highest-paid offensive lineman. This made it impossible for the Seahawks to match that offer since Walter Jones was already earning more there. But the Seahawks didn’t take the loss quietly.

Weeks later, they fired back by signing Vikings receiver Nate Burleson to a deal loaded with its own “poison pill”. This even included one that guaranteed his contract if he played five or more games in Minnesota.

All these instances show that the franchises are often under the spotlight; only this time, it’s Jerry Jones, so it has to shine brightly on him.