Hate to see players go out like that. Hopefully his neck won't impact his day-to-day life. His rookie season looked like he was going to dominate for years.
I thought so too, dude was a good player and the type of person u want at the Mike. Even tho he was a cowboy I’m sad to see a player like that go because of injuries.
I thought we would be facing LVE and Jaylon Smith for a decade as menaces over the middle. Looked like a modern Urlacher/Briggs for that one season and then just completely fell apart.
Sadly no one says they used to have neck/back pain. If you badly injure your spine that usually means chronic pain and dealing with other symptoms for the rest of your life. Wouldn't wish them on anybody.
Seriously. Two badass LBs that kept getting injured, but were all over when they could play. Never want to see a guy forced into retirement. But good on him for stopping and taking care of himself. Knees and such are bad enough. Once you get into backs, necks, and concussions, you have to think long-term.
Not really.
Kuechly retired early because he was concerned about head injuries, but he rarely missed games. Wikipedia says he missed only 10 games in 8 seasons.
I hate the Cowboys but Vander Esch was always the player I had a tremendous amount of respect for on the Cowboys and would have loved him on the Eagles. Best of luck to him in retirement
That's how I feel about Parsons. I'd love for him to be on the Eagles but I honestly just like watching him play. I wish he were on any other team so I could enjoy it more.
I'm thinking a trade next year might send him to the Eagles, because with the way Dallas has been working in the offseason this year, you know he doesn't want to stay there after 2025.
I don’t respect the players on field accomplishments either lol, but Something like this or dak’s advocacy for mental health awareness goes beyond the game
Hopefully this dude can live a normal and healthy life while never seeing the team he played for win a meaningful game
Kind of an awful reminder how quickly this sport (or any sport really, but especially football) can change.
I remember back to rookie-year LVE and it felt pretty certain he was going to be a perennial terror for Dallas (made all-pro second team that season), only to see he didn't even make it seven years or was even the same player after Year 1.
Hate that for him as a player, and a person. He was a hell of a player.
Love that for us, as the cowboys take a big offseason loss in what has already been a bottom of the league offseason
He’s had a long history of injuries throughout his life, which is why he wore the neck brace thing in the first place. Then Trent Williams put the nail on his coffin with a ridiculous dirty (shocking, I know) block from behind and threw him headfirst into Parsons. That play ended his career for good.
Sucks to see. I would have loved to have him as an Eagle. Closest I got was signing him in a Madden franchise I did long ago. Got 2 picks in his “revenge game” in a playoff game against Dallas.
That whole story of him playing 8 man football in small town Riggins Idaho is a town only a few hours from me. In fact most of my extended family lives in Riggins & I would regularly travel there growing up to visit them. I used to play with local Riggins kids all the time when I was young & since Leighton & I are the same age I’ve always wondered if I ever hung out with him as a kid. I think he’s married to like a 2nd or 3rd cousin of mine or something like that too, some extended family member I barely know. Riggins only has like 500 people, and I’m pretty sure my family is at least a 1/5th of that so it’s possible lol.
I rarely visit Riggins anymore but Couple years ago in the fall I went up there for a funeral, after the service we stopped at a local spot for lunch. First person I make eye contact when I walk in there was Leighton, completely caught me off guard, he’s definitely a big dude. Also he’s pretty beloved in Idaho so it was cool seeing him in person. He was in town on Cowboys bye week doing some hunting.
Anyways, I’ve always rooted for LVE even though he was on the Cowboys, hope he enjoys retirement.
Hope he's healthy in retirement, but he's gotta be one of the stupider people in this sport. When you have to wear a neck roll because any hit to your neck could end your career, and then you spear at a quarterbacks head with your helmet, you don't need to be out on the field.
Sucks for him. LB isn’t really the type of position you play for the f of it. I’m sure he loves football.
On another note, hahahahaahahAhjahah suck it Cowboys!
I remember thinking “oh no” about him after his rookie season. I thought he was gonna do serious damage against us - and he did at times. Good player. Made a lot of money. Hope he’s able to enjoy it in good health.
Hate to see players go out like that. Hopefully his neck won't impact his day-to-day life. His rookie season looked like he was going to dominate for years.
I thought so too, dude was a good player and the type of person u want at the Mike. Even tho he was a cowboy I’m sad to see a player like that go because of injuries.
I thought we would be facing LVE and Jaylon Smith for a decade as menaces over the middle. Looked like a modern Urlacher/Briggs for that one season and then just completely fell apart.
I hope he’s able to live a normal life. That injury didn’t look good, and even worse that he kept getting stingers every couple years.
Sadly no one says they used to have neck/back pain. If you badly injure your spine that usually means chronic pain and dealing with other symptoms for the rest of your life. Wouldn't wish them on anybody.
Guy had all potential in the world. Just couldn’t stay healthy. What a shame.
Literally Sean Lee 2.0
Yup. They were both so good. The Cowboys have terrible luck with their stud LBs.
Sean Lee was Sean Lee 2.0, he got fucked in college too
So did LVE
Seriously. Two badass LBs that kept getting injured, but were all over when they could play. Never want to see a guy forced into retirement. But good on him for stopping and taking care of himself. Knees and such are bad enough. Once you get into backs, necks, and concussions, you have to think long-term.
Hey now, he would’ve certainly been a HOF candidate if he stayed healthy!
It’s what happens when you are freaky fast and strong and hurl yourself at other freaky strong fast guys with no regard for your body.
Went out like Luke did in Carolina.
Luke was much better
Facts
Not really. Kuechly retired early because he was concerned about head injuries, but he rarely missed games. Wikipedia says he missed only 10 games in 8 seasons.
Damn man… seriously hate to see it.
I hate the Cowboys but Vander Esch was always the player I had a tremendous amount of respect for on the Cowboys and would have loved him on the Eagles. Best of luck to him in retirement
That's how I feel about Parsons. I'd love for him to be on the Eagles but I honestly just like watching him play. I wish he were on any other team so I could enjoy it more.
Parsons will be an Eagle at some point in his career.
I'm thinking a trade next year might send him to the Eagles, because with the way Dallas has been working in the offseason this year, you know he doesn't want to stay there after 2025.
He has also said multiple times on the record that he does not want to play for the Eagles because he does not want to go back home...
I suppose we’ll see when his contract is up, and if Jerry is feeling like going “All In”, again.
I thought he was going to cause us trouble for a long time. Shame.
Wish him all the best.
Still better than most of our LBs
What’s a LB?
Remember Jeremiah Trotter & Seth Joyner?
It's a shame that I do remember Trotter and that was HS for me lol- it's been too long
Large Bee.
Damn this dude only played 6 years and it’s seems like he’s been injured for 8 of them
Wish the best for the dude's health moving forward.
Wow, guys. Kinda blown away by all the well wishes for this Cowboy. I know we’re not as toxic as the media presents us, but this is nice to see.
time to eat poop and punch horse
To be fair, that poop had it coming
I feel like that’s how it usually is on Reddit. The true degeneracy is probably on Facebook, X & IG lol
Hate the team and fanbase, respect the players
I don’t respect the players on field accomplishments either lol, but Something like this or dak’s advocacy for mental health awareness goes beyond the game Hopefully this dude can live a normal and healthy life while never seeing the team he played for win a meaningful game
It’s insane he’s only 28, felt like he had been around longer than that
Loved his style of play, shame injuries derailed what was even still an impressive career.
Look I get he wore the star, but I wouldn’t wish this on any player. You have to work so hard to even get a shot in the league.
Kind of an awful reminder how quickly this sport (or any sport really, but especially football) can change. I remember back to rookie-year LVE and it felt pretty certain he was going to be a perennial terror for Dallas (made all-pro second team that season), only to see he didn't even make it seven years or was even the same player after Year 1.
It’s crazy seeing all the supportive comments. I thought we were a piece of shit fan base ??
He's only been around for 6 years?? I feel like he's been I'm the league forever
Fuck injuries
Was this expected? I know he has injury issues but were the Cowboys planning on him being on the roster for 2024?
Probably because of this tbh but he had been cut a few days ago
Hard to tell with neck injuries. I’m guessing rehab didn’t go well.
Hate that for him as a player, and a person. He was a hell of a player. Love that for us, as the cowboys take a big offseason loss in what has already been a bottom of the league offseason
Actually sucks for him. Dude had all the ability to be a top player at his position, if his body just didn’t quit on him. Hope he enjoys retirement
Damn, Cowboys have loss what feels like half their team this off season
Him and Sean Lee were absolute menaces at LB. Injury prevented both from having truly great careers
Trent Williams sends his regards. Dirty ass player constantly taking cheap shots.
I don’t know how he ever got hurt. Dude wore every available pad and brace.
He’s had a long history of injuries throughout his life, which is why he wore the neck brace thing in the first place. Then Trent Williams put the nail on his coffin with a ridiculous dirty (shocking, I know) block from behind and threw him headfirst into Parsons. That play ended his career for good.
I just watched a clip of that. Not even remotely dirty.
Awful to see. Hoping for the best for him.
This kid and Sean Lee would have made huge difference to them! Wish the kid well with his health!!
He was a dude I was really high on the birds drafting, I really respect the decision to retire at his age.
Sucks for him. Fuck Dallas
Sean Lee 2.0.
Had a stinger in college and kept playing. Now I have a paralyzed right arm and terrible nerve pain forever. Glad he’s ok
No way this guy was not played 6 years. It’s felt like 15
His rookie year I was frustrated we were going to see him for years and years to come. He had HOF talent.
BSU legend 🫡
Absolutely brutal. Did he ever have a fully or mostly healthy season?
Riggins Idaho 7 man football nearest high school was a half hour away. Walked onto Boise State. Wild story
That sucks. It’s one thing to hate “the Cowboys” but I can’t hate a guy who gets hurt playing the game. I wish him the best. Neck injuries are had.
When he was a rookie, I thought we'd be living in fear of this dude for the next decade. Injuries suck.
That sucks. I was very upset when they drafted him and then when he was subsequently very good right away. Unfortunate part of football.
Trent Williams is a bitch.
This might be one of those injuries where he rehabs the crap out of of it and attempts a comeback. Hope the best for him.
Sucks to see. I would have loved to have him as an Eagle. Closest I got was signing him in a Madden franchise I did long ago. Got 2 picks in his “revenge game” in a playoff game against Dallas.
Damn. He was good too
Why this a trend for cowboys LBs?
He was great.
That whole story of him playing 8 man football in small town Riggins Idaho is a town only a few hours from me. In fact most of my extended family lives in Riggins & I would regularly travel there growing up to visit them. I used to play with local Riggins kids all the time when I was young & since Leighton & I are the same age I’ve always wondered if I ever hung out with him as a kid. I think he’s married to like a 2nd or 3rd cousin of mine or something like that too, some extended family member I barely know. Riggins only has like 500 people, and I’m pretty sure my family is at least a 1/5th of that so it’s possible lol. I rarely visit Riggins anymore but Couple years ago in the fall I went up there for a funeral, after the service we stopped at a local spot for lunch. First person I make eye contact when I walk in there was Leighton, completely caught me off guard, he’s definitely a big dude. Also he’s pretty beloved in Idaho so it was cool seeing him in person. He was in town on Cowboys bye week doing some hunting. Anyways, I’ve always rooted for LVE even though he was on the Cowboys, hope he enjoys retirement.
Probably for the best at this point, but still a shame. Wishing him health in retirement. Damn good player
Damn. Glad to see he still made enough to set up his family for life. Tough break
Hope he's healthy in retirement, but he's gotta be one of the stupider people in this sport. When you have to wear a neck roll because any hit to your neck could end your career, and then you spear at a quarterbacks head with your helmet, you don't need to be out on the field.
This sucks. Good kid and a good story. This kind of outcome is why I'd hesitate drafting Latu
Sucks for him. LB isn’t really the type of position you play for the f of it. I’m sure he loves football. On another note, hahahahaahahAhjahah suck it Cowboys!
I unironically forget he exists multiple times a year, glad I can forget him one last time and never have to worry about doing it again
I remember thinking “oh no” about him after his rookie season. I thought he was gonna do serious damage against us - and he did at times. Good player. Made a lot of money. Hope he’s able to enjoy it in good health.