The Green Bay Packers, as one of the most successful teams in league history, have made many enemies over the years. Not surprising for a franchise with a plus-500 record against every single team in its conference.
But even that record is just in the regular season. The playoff victories the Packers have accumulated against the NFC no doubt weigh on the minds of decision makers across the NFL.
With a potential trade rumored to be discussed between the Dallas Cowboys and the Packers for star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, one memory in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ mind may force him to back out entirely.
Packers’ shot at Micah Parsons complicated by Jerry Jones’ playoff grudge
The Netflix documentary America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys unveiled what Jones may see as the worst playoff loss in the history of his team: The 2023 Wild Card loss, where the Packers found themselves up 48-16 halfway through the fourth quarter.
“This loss hurt us, in every way, more than any one we’ve ever had,” Jones said in the show, as he watched footage of the game.
Jones has been known to hold grudges. It was nearly 30 years before he finally buried the hatchet to put coach Jimmy Johnson in the team’s ring of honor. What’s to stop him from trading Parsons to a team that ruined the hopes of a 12-5 Cowboys team that hasn’t been back to the playoffs since?
Parsons played in that game, though he didn’t get to Jordan Love in the backfield for a sack, finishing with just two tackles and a QB hit. Less than two years later, he might be on his way out of Dallas because of his own spiraling relationship with his controversial owner.
The Packers are certainly one of the most realistic landing spots if the Cowboys do trade Parsons. They have the cap space to sign him to a huge contract extension, and are a strong enough contender to eat the heavy price that is needed to land the two-time All-Pro selection. Still, they’re one of the few teams up for consideration that have hurt the Cowboys so directly in recent years.
It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see Jones ship Parsons to a team struggling to get back in the postseason race, like the New England Patriots or the Tennessee Titans, if it means keeping Parsons as far away from the Cowboys as possible.
On the other hand, Jones could ask a higher price out of Green Bay to see if he can get one back over on the Packers with the playoff loss fresh in his mind, thanks to the documentary filming.
