The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly grew “fed up with” George Pickens earlier than they traded the mercurial extensive receiver to the Dallas Cowboys in Could.
Whereas talking with reporters on Tuesday, first-year Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer indicated that Pickens has been nothing however a mannequin worker over his first a number of months with the group.
“From the time we bought George and he got here into my workplace, he made it clear that he needs to be coached,” Schottenheimer mentioned, Sports activities Illustrated’s Tyler Reed shared. “He needs to be an amazing participant. He informed me to ‘lean into me, be robust on me.’ He’s been nothing however unimaginable by way of the way in which he’s labored and communicated with us.”
Per the Cowboys’ web site, Pickens has been answerable for a number of highlight-reel performs throughout coaching camp. That is hardly shocking, because the 2022 second-round draft decide flashed all types of bodily expertise throughout his three seasons with the Steelers.
That mentioned, Pickens additionally developed a popularity throughout his Pittsburgh tenure together with his
emotional outbursts throughout video games and for wanting displeased over an absence of targets whereas on the sidelines. Moreover, he allegedly was responsible of a “litany of violations,” equivalent to exhibiting up late for Pittsburgh’s Christmas Day recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs final season.
It is no secret that Schottenheimer and Co. hope that having No. 1 receiver CeeDee Lamb as a teammate will assist hold Pickens on his greatest habits by way of the upcoming season. On Tuesday, Schottenheimer mentioned that “the connection [Pickens] has with CeeDee is particular.”
Pickens has many causes to need to excel whereas with the Cowboys. He’s within the last 12 months
of his rookie contract and isn’t anticipated to obtain an extension earlier than the season begins. In the meantime, DraftKings Sportsbook had Dallas at +180 betting odds to make the playoffs this season as of Wednesday morning.
Pickens will get his first actual alternative to indicate the Steelers made a mistake by letting him go together with a prime-time matchup towards the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.
