Micah Parsons hits new Dallas Cowboys safety Caleb Downs with advice, and it’s actually pretty good
The former Dallas Cowboys pass rusher got a chance to talk to first-round pick Caleb Downs moments after he was drafted in the first round. He offered some genuinely good advice.
From the moment we learned Micah Parsons would once again be covering the NFL Draft for Bleacher Report, fans and media members were on watch mode when the Dallas Cowboys went on the clock.
But while most were in the hunt for controversial soundbites or moments with potential for going viral, we actually got a pretty cool moment from Parsons. The former Cowboys star and now Green Bay Packer talked to Dallas’ first-round pick Caleb Downs and offered him solid advice about going into his rookie season with America’s Team.
Parsons offers Downs top-notch advice
Presented with a chance to ask Parsons for advice, Downs simply wanted to know about Micah’s mindset going into his rookie year.
“The first thing that I tell anybody is that being a first-round pick is a pressure of its own but that pressure is a privilege,” Parsons said. “And because you’re wearing a Star, then it’s even higher expectations, higher media, higher noise. Eliminate it.”
But the real depth of Parsons’ advice came after that when he told Downs about how to handle himself in practice and in the building. The main takeaway? Act like what he is, the guy.
“Remember this, they’re not drafting to be a player, they’re drafting you to be the player that you already are,” Parsons told Downs. “To come into that system and dominate. So you’re not here to be behind nobody, you’re not here to say ‘Yo, I’m trying to learn from him.’ No, you’re here to start, be the guy, you are the guy.”
Indeed, Downs is ‘the guy’ at starting spot
Parsons is on to something. The Cowboys walked away from the first round of the draft with one of the best talents in the entire class. And based on head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s comments, Downs will immediately be looked at in the nickel spot.
The Cowboys believe he has the versatility to successfully fulfill the role that new defensive coordinator Christian Parker has described as a priority.
Last month, this is how Schottenheimer described their vision at the position: “I think (Parker) was the one that said it; you have to be able to cover like a corner, blitz like a safety, and fit the run like a linebacker.”
On Thursday night, Schottenheimer added to that communication responsibilities.
So not only does Downs need to be “the guy.” He needs to be the guy at one of the most important positions on the Cowboys defense.
