Micah Parsons is furious. The Dallas Cowboys linebacker lashed out on social media after Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava skipped spring practices to demand more money from his NIL deal. Parsons saw the news, logged on, and did not hold back. “College football a joke now! Y’all minds well just make college into a semi pro league! Actually hold players accountable to the contracts they sign!” he tweeted.
This isn’t just another NIL headline. This is the first time a college quarterback has staged a practice holdout over NIL terms. Nico Iamaleava is reportedly pushing his deal from $2 million to $4 million per year. He wants double the money. And until the deal’s updated, he’s out. That’s it. No practice, no appearances. ESPN’s Chris Low reported that Tennessee officials were “surprised” by the move but remain firm. “Tennessee officials ‘won’t blink,’” he said.
The timing isn’t random. The NCAA spring transfer portal opens on April 16. If Tennessee doesn’t pay, Nico Iamaleava can walk. He becomes the most valuable quarterback on the market. Schools with money will line up. Parsons saw that, and blew a gasket.
Micah Parsons defends Penn State era and slams modern college players while ignoring the money he’s also getting
Micah Parsons didn’t stop after that first tweet. When someone clapped back and told him college football has always been semi-pro, he dropped another.
“Nah college was never about money! College is bout building character! I am the man I am today because of the brotherhood and the amazing coaches I’ve had during my time at Penn State! We are failing kids now because life isn’t easy and we are allowing them to quit!”
Micah Parsons played for Penn State between 2018 and 2020. He’s eligible for a piece of the multi-billion-dollar antitrust settlement that covers players from 2016 to 2024. He says college wasn’t about money. He can prove it by refusing the check. But let’s be honest. He won’t.
College football never paid players fairly. Schools profited. Players were told to shut up and take the “value of an education” while their jerseys sold out in stadium gift shops. NIL changed that, because the system was broken. Courts ruled it illegal. The lie of amateurism finally cracked.
Now we’re seeing the aftermath. Nico Iamaleava is doing what NFL players have always done. He’s leveraging performance for compensation. He’s not breaking a contract. He doesn’t even have one. No play means no NIL money. That’s the deal. That’s all.
Micah Parsons says he wants players to “honor the contract they sign.” But soon, he’ll be up for a contract that breaks NFL defensive player records. And if he doesn’t get it before training camp, he might sit out. Fans will remember what he said. And they’ll throw it right back.
Nico Iamaleava is controlling the market and Micah Parsons is watching from the outside
Nico Iamaleava’s numbers are not average. In his first season as Tennessee’s starter, he threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He led the Tennessee Volunteers to the College Football Playoff, where they lost to Ohio State. He’s young. He’s high value. He knows it.
He’s not just some backup trying to cash in. Nico Iamaleava was the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 class. He was ranked No. 1 in California. No. 2 quarterback in the country. According to 247Sports Composite rankings, he was elite before even stepping on the field.
Now he’s asking for what he thinks he’s worth. And the timing is smart. April 16 to April 25 is the NCAA’s transfer window. He can jump ship, cash in somewhere else, and start fresh.
Micah Parsons doesn’t like it. That’s clear. But what’s also clear? Nico Iamaleava isn’t asking for anything that NFL players don’t already do. He’s just doing it earlier.
The NIL era made this possible. College football ignored fairness for decades. Now players have leverage. And every time a big-name athlete uses it, someone like Micah Parsons has something to say. But players like Nico Iamaleava aren’t listening. They’re getting paid.
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