NFL Beast to Pickleball Buff: Micah Parsons Says He’s ‘Addicted’ to Playing Singles

Defensive end Micah Parsons’ return to AT&T Stadium in Dallas was one of the biggest stories this week. The four-time Pro Bowler, traded from the Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers in August, has also been making headlines off the field, this time, for his growing love of pickleball.Revealing that it was his agent, David Mulugheta, who first introduced him to the sport, Parsons said, “David had a pickleball event like two years ago in Austin. We all came down, and that sparked my interest.” “As it started growing, I ended up getting a stake in the Ranchers, and that’s when I really started getting involved, wanting to be around it, learning more about it,” Parsons told CBS Sports analyst Bryant McFadden.He now plays regularly and has even incorporated it into his offseason workouts.“I’m playing like two, three times a week,” confirmed Parsons.“It’s like great cardio playing singles. I’m addicted.”Despite his enthusiasm, Parsons knows there’s more to learn.“I think I’m an okay player. I’ve played against some pros and some outstanding players, so I’m like, okay. There are levels to it,” he said.“Pickleball is all about touch. It ain’t really about how strong you can hit it. It’s about touch, feel, and placement. It’s strategic. I’m still mastering it. It’s hard.”The Packers star also has teammates who share his passion. Tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave are frequent visitors to The Picklr in Green Bay.“It’s just an easy sport to play for a long time,” said Kraft.“As long as you’re having fun, it doesn’t really matter how competitive the games get or who you’re playing with.”