GREEN BAY, Wis. — Micah Parsons frolicked Friday remembering and reflecting on his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Marshawn Kneeland, who died Thursday of what authorities mentioned was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Parsons, who was traded from the Cowboys to the Packers in August, performed one season in Dallas with Kneeland, a second-round draft decide in 2024.
“Marshawn’s a man who liked his anime, liked his video video games like anyone else,” Parsons mentioned. “To me, he all the time confirmed me nothing however respect from the second he got here into the locker room. He revered me as a participant, he revered me as an individual. So, I’ve nothing however excessive respect for him. If there’s something his household wants, I will be the primary particular person to assist or provide something I can do to supply an individual. I simply hope that he finds his peace and his household peace within the scenario.”
Throughout his frequently scheduled session with reporters, Parsons spoke at size about Kneeland and psychological well being issues that skilled athletes face.
“We might be fools to behave like what we do is not sufficient strain as it’s,” Parsons mentioned. “We reside in a strain job the place you are anticipated to ship and also you’re anticipated to play a sure means, and when you do not, it is simple to say, ‘Oh, man, it is so unhappy,’ however lots of people are onerous on individuals. ‘You suck. You stink. We hope you die.’ There’s quite a lot of harsh phrases and harsh issues that get mentioned about individuals.
“As athletes, most of us see it — a few of us do not — however we select to attend till any person passes to comprehend what we are saying and what we do, the way it can have an effect on individuals. We do not all perceive what occurred to ‘9-4’ in [this] occasion, however psychological well being is vital about being there for one another, whether or not we’re going by onerous instances or no matter it could be. It is robust. It is a onerous job. Nevertheless it’s onerous to be an individual typically. I feel typically individuals evade that you’re human. They attempt to go away from that. Typically you want issues was completely different as a result of … clearly, it was Marshawn the person who we want we may’ve been there for him, not Marshawn the uniform. So, I am simply attempting to be there for individuals extra the particular person facet than the soccer facet.”
Since he got here to Inexperienced Bay, Parsons has spent a lot of his time away from his household. However he mentioned he was grateful that a few of his relations had been already in Inexperienced Bay this week upfront of Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Eagles when he acquired the information about Kneeland.
“We must always all simply use this time to remain prayed up. Maintain praying — praying to your family members, praying that folks discover peace,” Parsons mentioned. “After which additionally simply proceed to succeed in out to our family members. It made me attain out to some mates I’ve again dwelling, former teammates, about how we took as a right the time we’ve got collectively. Life’s simply so quick so we must always actually simply begin appreciating a bit of bit extra and simply loving individuals proper and being purposeful with our intent and the way we deal with individuals and the way we settle for individuals.”
Cowboys gamers have been off this week as a result of the workforce is on its bye, which made Parsons one of many first present or former teammates of Kneeland to talk publicly.
“I’ve to discover a strategy to embrace my feelings, embrace all the things I am feeling for his household, my former teammates,” Parsons mentioned. “I bought former teammates which can be devastated. They cannot realize it. Shedding a teammate is sort of a brother. That is somebody — individuals do not understand how a lot we’re truly collectively, like time spent. That is the problem. Like regardless, the NFL is sort of a brotherhood. It would not matter who it’s. If you happen to’re breaking sweat, breaking blood with somebody whether or not it is reverse workforce or similar workforce, it is a brotherhood. Attempting to place that apart is difficult, however we gotta discover a means as a result of there’s an expectation come Monday evening.”
Parsons mentioned he bought phrase of Kneeland’s loss of life early Thursday morning and discovered shortly thereafter that he died of what authorities mentioned was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In response to Frisco (Texas) Police, the division responded to help the Texas Division of Public Security with finding a automobile that evaded troopers throughout a pursuit that entered the town at roughly 10:39 p.m. native time Wednesday.
DPS troopers discovered Kneeland’s automobile crashed on the southbound Dallas Parkway close to Warren Parkway. In response to the report, Kneeland fled the scene on foot and officers searched the world with assist from Ok-9 and drone models.
As authorities had been searching for Kneeland, a dispatcher advised officers that individuals who knew him had acquired a gaggle textual content from Kneeland “saying goodbye. They’re involved for his welfare,” in accordance with recordings from Broadcastify, which archives public security radio feeds.
Roughly three hours later, Kneeland was discovered with what gave the impression to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
ESPN’s Todd Archer contributed to this report.