Revealed: Secret 'poison pill' clause Dallas Cowboys inserted into Micah Parsons' trade to Green Bay Packers

The Dallas Cowboys ensured Micah Parsons will not end up at their division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles by inserting a 'poison pill' into trade negotiations with the Green Bay Packers, it has been revealed.

Parsons' blockbuster trade over the summer sent the league into meltdown, when Dallas sent the four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to Green Bay in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

But now a secret clause in the deal has been revealed by ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter, that will ensure Parsons doesn't go to a Cowboys' rival next.

According to sources involved in the deal, Dallas put a 'poison pill' condition in the trade, stating that the Packers can not trade Parsons to a team in the NFC East - i.e. the Eagles, Giants or Commanders - or else they will owe Dallas their first-round draft pick.

The same condition was also used on Kenny Clark, the other player involved in the deal, meaning that he cannot be traded to a team in the NFC North - the Lions, Bears or Vikings - or else Green Bay will owe Dallas its 2028 first-round pick. 

It is understood that Parsons one day wants to play in Philadelphia - near where he grew up - but Dallas was seemingly thinking ahead to avoid future embarrassment after trading him away.

A similar 'poison pill' has been used multiple times before in the NFL, perhaps most notably when the Packers traded quarterback Brett Favre to the New York Jets, stipulating that he could not be traded to an NFC North rival.

If that had happened, the Jets would have owed three first-round picks to Green Bay.

Parsons has enjoyed a blistering start to life in Green Bay, last month recording a career-high three sacks in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

He has 6.5 sacks on the season, as well as 4.5 stuffs and 20 tackles.  

Parsons is involved in a huge game on Monday Night Football, against the Eagles no less.