Denzel Washington, a New York native and one of Hollywood's luminous stars, revealed his decades-long fervent support for the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, the double Academy Award winner, during a guest appearance on ESPN's "First Take" program on Tuesday to promote his upcoming film "Highest 2 Lowest," couldn't help but voice his discontent regarding the current plight of his beloved NFL team.
While much of his conversation with host Stephen A. Smith revolved around the movie, Washington seized an opportunity to call out long-standing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, as the franchise's Super Bowl dry spell edges closer to three decades. The saga of Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who continues to hold out for a trade amidst seemingly stalled negotiations with Jones and the team's front office over a long-term contract extension, served as the catalyst for Washington's frustration.
Washington lamented, "I don't approve of what (Jones) is doing… I hold respect for the owner, but I dislike the impact it's having on the fans." He continued, "He's not considering us, the fans. His focus is solely on his wallet. It's akin to the difference between box office success and winning an Oscar. And you haven't graced the Oscars stage in a while. Nevertheless, I'll still don my hat adorned with the star."
Attempting to steer the conversation back to his film, Washington couldn't resist offering Jones one more piece of advice. "Not all money is beneficial, Jerry!" he cautioned.
Washington also shared that he has been a Cowboys fan "since the 1960s." The 70-year-old actor has similarly been a staunch supporter of the Los Angeles Lakers for years.
Parsons, despite missing four games last season, still managed to finish with an impressive 12 sacks. He has notched double-digit sacks in each of his four NFL seasons.
Last week, Jones admitted he wasn't fully confident that Parsons would don a Cowboys uniform for their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. "No, absolutely not," Jones said last Tuesday. "That largely depends on his decision. How would I know for sure?"
Since Jones took the reigns as the franchise's controlling owner, the Cowboys have claimed three Super Bowl titles. However, they haven't reached the championship game since the 1995 season.
