{"id":59233,"date":"2025-06-29T03:51:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T03:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=59233"},"modified":"2025-06-29T03:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T03:51:23","slug":"breaking-new-cowboys-wr-george-pickens-already-facing-public-backlash-and-its-deserved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=59233","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: New Cowboys WR George Pickens already facing public backlash (and it’s deserved).."},"content":{"rendered":"
It is impossible to defend Pickens over this.<\/div>\n
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\"Oct<\/div>\n
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The Dallas Cowboys’ trade for George Pickens was not made without risk. It was a gamble, but a necessary one\u00a0to bolster a lackluster wide receiver room\u00a0behind star CeeDee Lamb and give Dak Prescott his first legitimate WR2 in years.<\/p>\n

It will be on the Cowboys to harness Pickens’ immaturity and penchant for committing selfish acts on the football field. The hope is that Pickens getting out of Pittsburgh will lead to improved character. Being in a contract year\u00a0should\u00a0<\/em>also incentivize him to keep his act together.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately,\u00a0Pickens has enraged Steelers fans\u00a0after he backed out of hosting his\u00a0George Pickens Youth Football Camp\u00a0<\/em>in Pittsburgh. Pickens had confirmed he would still attend ever being traded to Dallas, but decided not to participate four days ahead of time.<\/p>\n

Cowboy WR George Pickens criticized for bailing on Pittsburgh youth football camp<\/h2>\n

The camp, put on by TrueEdge Sports, has been postponed until July. The company even got Steelers tight end\u00a0Pat Freiermuth to step in as a last-minute replacement. It is also attempting to get other Steelers players to make an appearance.<\/p>\n

It is unclear why Pickens did not follow through on his commitment. Regardless, it is hard to defend his actions.<\/p>\n

It is one thing to bail on giving kids a moment they will never forget, but the lack of notice is another misstep that easily could have been avoided. A potential alternative would have been to cancel weeks ahead of time and ask one of his current or former teammates to replace him.<\/p>\n

At that point, Pickens would have covered his bases. While it still wouldn’t have been a great optic to not show up to his own camp, at least he would have ensured the kids in attendance got a full experience.<\/p>\n

The reporting reads that Pickens left the kids high and dry, which is just indefensible without knowing\u00a0why\u00a0<\/em>he backed out.<\/p>\n

Hopefully this ends with Pickens providing an explanation, apology and a gesture to make up for his absence. Until then, any and all backlash he receives is probably deserved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is impossible to defend Pickens over this. The Dallas Cowboys’ trade for George Pickens was not made without risk. 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