It’s a two-way street. Some of the game’s elite have worn the Cowboys’ star after first playing elsewhere. In San Francisco alone, think of Terrell Owens, Deion Sanders, and Charles Haley. The higher the profile, the higher the drama. And no one has staged it longer than Jerry Jones, whose soap opera has lasted far beyond Larry Hagman’s run as the fictional J.R. Ewing.
So how does a 1–2 football team still command so many headlines? Inject the storyline of Micah Parsons returning on Sunday Night Football and expect fireworks.
MICAH PARSONS IS RELENTLESS
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025
His first sack as a member of the @packers pic.twitter.com/Oorr7POxNe
Russell Maryland, the former No. 1 overall pick in 1991 and three-time Super Bowl champion, knows the circus well. Like Parsons, he also suited up in Green Bay before his career closed. I caught up with Maryland to talk about Parsons’ return, his own unlikely Packers stint, and negotiating with Jerry Jones.
Craig: Did you even look good in a Packers uniform?
Russell Maryland: I look good in any color combination (laughs) even if it’s green and yellow. Honestly, it was tough on family and friends playing for Green Bay, because like you, I’m originally from Chicago. You grow up watching those great rivalry games, so it was strange at first. I went to the Packers because head coach Mike Sherman literally came to my front door one day and said that he needed me, and that meant a lot. It was a great experience. You pull up to Lambeau Field and it’s right smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. It’s incredible to be supported by that community—those cheeseheads love their team.
Craig: What kind of reaction do you expect Micah to receive on Sunday night?
Maryland: I think Cowboys fans will give him a proper reception. He played his butt off for the Cowboys. They might give Jerry some boos, because it’s a bittersweet type of thing.
Craig: What was your experience like negotiating with Jerry when you were drafted first overall?
Maryland: Remember, I wasn’t the guy people wanted at number one, but Rocket Ismail had left for Toronto. Jimmy (Johnson) told Jerry that he needed me because Dallas already had the Triplets, but they needed a guy on the defensive line who knew how to win. For Jimmy, it was a no-brainer. With Jerry, I never came close to quarterback money (laughs). But I knew Dallas was the place I had to be, and playing for Jimmy again was enough.
Craig: Your final game was the last Super Bowl Dallas won. Why didn’t they bring you back?
Maryland: It was a combination of things. The Cowboys had Leon Lett and Chad Hennings coming up, so they were strong at defensive tackle. I was going to command big dollars, and they figured they could get similar play out of those guys. I had to test the market, and Al Davis was that guy, he came and got me.
MORE NFL NEWS:
Ravens fans take aim at All-Pro defender after preposterous response to loss vs. Lions
Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons sends haunting warning to Dallas Cowboys ahead of Week 4 clash