George Pickens faces brutal Skip Bayless criticism as Cowboys exit revives Mike Tomlin’s controversial decision to move on
Pickens had a limited role in the passing game against Arizona, catching just two of his four targets for 48 yards. His 37-yard reception helped Dallas reach the end zone early in the fourth quarter, when Dak Prescott scored on a five-yard run to give the Cowboys a 24-10 lead.
“They said it was while the guy was lining up to kick the field goal. But whatever… It’s why Mike Tomlin said no to him. Pickens’ reaction became a talking point after footage showed him sprinting toward the locker room at AT&T Stadium as Arizona prepared for its winning field goal. The timing of his exit caught attention, especially with Dallas still fighting to save the game. Speaking on Gridiron alongside former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib, Bayless questioned both Pickens’ involvement in the Cowboys’ offense and his decision to leave the field. “You can say it’s just on the players, but George Pickens — they don’t feature him. They threw him four balls all day. And you see, he just ran off the field. He just ran up the tunnel as fast as he could. He just took off running. However, his contribution was not entirely insignificant.
I think it was almost before the final field goal. He continued by questioning why Pickens had left before the game was officially over.
Team executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan on Monday that the receiver had been dealing with hamstring trouble. “If they’re developing in the right ways, if they fit your long-range plans, then you do second contract business with them. It didn’t happen for us with George, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s not going to be a spectacular player. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have their own questions to answer about Pickens’ role. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer discussed the team’s personnel choices, while Dak Prescott admitted he did not have an easy answer when asked how Dallas could involve Pickens more.