Micah Parsons calls out C.J. Gardner-Johnson for criticism of Saints: ‘I don’t know who he thinks he is’

The Eagles shut down the Saints offense, one of the NFL’s best over the first two weeks of the season, on Sunday in New Orleans. After a disappointing final drive against Atlanta, the defense responded by bringing consistent pressure and limiting New Orleans playmakers Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who played for the Saints from 2019 to 2021, told reporters of their “dirty” play and questioned their status of having the league’s top offense through two weeks.

“They ain’t no contenders; they’re pretenders,” Gardner-Johnson screamed in the postgame locker room, according to NFL Network. “They have Derek Carr. Remember that.”

Saints coach Dennis Allen told reporters Monday that his players don’t play dirty but do play hard and physical.

Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons called out Gardner-Johnson for his comments on Carr on his podcast Monday.

» READ MORE: Nick Sirianni doesn’t elaborate much on his decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 against the Saints

“I don’t know who [Gardner-Johnson] thinks he is,” Parsons said. “We’ve been dealing with this cat for a while. We’ve just got to be a little bit real right here. I think Derek Carr has validated himself way before [Gardner-Johnson] has ever done, in the most respectful way. Derek Carr has been a Pro Bowl quarterback.”

The Saints lost starting center Erik McCoy and starting guard Cesar Ruiz to injuries during the first half, which Parsons pointed to as a mismatch against a healthy Eagles roster.

“When you’ve got a pretty much healthy roster against a damaged front, it limits you in the things you can do,” Parsons said. “You’re trying to play off the guys you have on the field. That’s part of what coaching is. I’d say the Saints are a real contender. They’ve still got a lot of weapons; they’re just pretty banged up. Look at their defense, they held that team to 15 points and produced three turnovers.”

» READ MORE: Former Eagles react to the win in New Orleans: ‘Carter was a terror’

The Eagles later lost Darius Slay, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, and Mekhi Becton, so they weren’t exactly the picture of health, either.

Gardner-Johnson responded to Parsons on Instagram Live later Monday and on X early Tuesday, writing, “You can check my track record and how I overcame a lot! Won a lot more playoff games than you too my guy.”

“Nah, don’t [expletive] on another man and then try to have a heart to heart with me!” Parsons responded on X. “That man been through a lot too! We all have! But you ain’t nobody to be doing that.”

The feud continued into Wednesday, when Gardner-Johnson replied again, writing, “This man really a [expletive] for speaking on me, Sorry not sorry!!!”

This isn’t the first time Gardner-Johnson and Parsons have butted heads. In April, Gardner-Johnson called out Parsons, a Harrisburg native, for showing up to a Sixers playoff game and supporting Philly teams while playing for the Cowboys.

The Eagles and Cowboys meet for the first time this season on Nov. 10 in Dallas.