Newly acquired Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons wasted no time ingratiating himself into the Packers-Detroit Lions rivalry.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the former Dallas Cowboys sack artist couldn’t pass up an opportunity to throw shade at Green Bay’s Week 1 opponent and new division rival, the Detroit Lions.
“I’ve never liked Detroit,” Parsons said, via Fox 2. “I’ve never liked them, even when I was in Dallas. … I felt like Dallas and Detroit already had a rivalry, I already have that rivalry built up. I’m excited to play them.”
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Though there was some concern Parsons wouldn’t play in Sunday’s season opener because of a lingering back injury, the 26-year-old DE did make his team debut, logging one tackle, one sack, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit while on a snap count.
Parsons spent most of his time battling Lions three-time Pro Bowl right tackle Penei Sewell, and he sent a clear warning to the 24-year-old offensive lineman after the game.
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“I’m not going to be able to get rid of him,” Parsons said, via 97.3 The Game’s Matt Schneidman. “He’s a hell of a player. I told him, I said, ‘You’re my new rivalry now. I don’t got (Eagles offensive lineman) Lane (Johnson) no more. It’s going to be you. I’m going to see you twice a year, so you might as well buckle up.”
Parsons’ remarks caught the attention of several users on social media who were quick to applaud him for boldly throwing himself into the NFC North rivalry.
“This is a great quote. And spot on. Going to be a great battle to watch. I bet Lane will be watching lol,” Bleacher Report’s James Palmer wrote.
“NFL needs more this tho Player rivalries make the game better,” one fan added.
“Parsons calling his shot early! Love seeing elite players recognize each other. That Lions-(Packers) matchup in the trenches just became must-watch TV. Sewell’s been absolute granite at tackle, and now he’s got Micah circling the matchups on his calendar. NFL‘s best rivalries are built like this,” another fan chimed in.
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“Love everything about that. Respect for one great to another, and already thinking about getting after it against him twice a year. That’s awesome,” one user exclaimed.
“One of my favorite player quotes that I’ve read in a while,” remarked another user.
Sewell will have to wait until Thanksgiving Day in Week 13 to get another crack at Parsons and get a little revenge for Sunday’s 27-13 loss.
Parsons is a big addition to a Packers defense that logged the eighth-most sacks in the NFL last season (46).
The Penn State alum has totaled 12 or more sacks in each of his four NFL seasons, and he’s recorded the fifth-most sacks in the league since his rookie year in 2021 (53.5), behind only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (62), Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt (58.5), Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (58), and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (54.5).
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