The Micah Parsons saga with the Dallas Cowboys ended with a trade to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday. Interestingly, the player that might be able to provide the most unique insight to the blockbuster swap is former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens.
Pickens never requested a trade, but he was in a similar situation as Parsons with the Steelers over the spring. He faced an uncertain future and controversy over the last year or so.
On May 7, the Steelers dealt Pickens to, ironically, the Cowboys.
A teammate of Parsons’ for a few months, Pickens called the Cowboys-Packers trade involving the edge rusher “good for both sides” during an interview with NFL Network’s Jame Slater on Friday
One never to shy away from providing an honest answer, Pickens then explained how great his trade to Dallas has been.
“It was a good for me,” Pickens told Slater. “Just strictly cause you know when you’re somewhere so long and you build a certain record, a certain label, whether that’s good, great, or bad, you kind of want a fresh start.
“I feel like that’s [the case for] a lot of people in life.”
A lot of good and bad may best describe Pickens’ “label” with the Steelers. The receiver clearly showcased talent, averaging 16.3 yards per reception over three seasons.
In 2023, Pickens led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch.
But Pickens brought plenty of drama as well and has continued to create a stir through the media in Pittsburgh since the trade.
George Pickens Again Suggests Pleasure From Steelers Trade
One could argue earlier this offseason, Steelers media may have taken one of the receiver’s comments and blown it out of proportion for a headline.
That doesn’t appear to be happening in Dallas, which could be why Pickens sees the “fresh start” as a positive. The local media is no longer trying to misconstrue what he says or does for page views.
Having said that, there was plenty of drama around Pickens over his three years in Pittsburgh that wasn’t blown out of proportion. In particular, his late arrival for the team’s Christmas Day game and then his fraternizing with Kansas City Chiefs players after the embarrassing loss was a negative for a lot of Steelers pundits.
Pickens caused a stir in the media because of his pushback to a question he received a couple days after the loss as well.
But not everything Pickens has said this offseason was only a diss on the Steelers if misconstrued.
“I’m definitely excited to run better plays, for sure,” Pickens told reporters this offseason when asked about his opportunity in Dallas.
Pickens also said in July that Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is “one of the best coaches” he’s ever been around.
“Besides like Kirby Smart and a lot of other legend coaches that I’ve played for. But his energy is like one-of-one. That’s gotta be in somebody. You can’t really make that,” said Pickens.
Only the receiver can answer whether Super Bowl champion Mike Tomlin was in the group of “other legend coaches” that Pickens failed to mention.
Pickens in ‘Honeymoon Phase’ With Cowboys?
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh explained on the Up on Game podcast a few days after the Pickens trade why the Steelers were willing to trade the talented receiver.
Houshmandzadeh said Pickens’ lateness to the Christmas Day game wasn’t the first time he didn’t show up on time.
“George Pickens had stepped over and crossed the line a bit too many times and I know people that play with the Steelers. He’d be late for the team plane that would be flying out to away games multiple times. He’d be late to get on the team bus and they had enough of it,” the former receiver said, via Steelers Now’s Chris Ward.
Pickens is getting a fresh start in Dallas, and he shouldn’t take that for granted. Because if he does, this offseason could prove to just be a “honeymoon phase,” as Ward put it.
“It’s all sunshine and rainbows. Will that be the case if Pickens receives four targets in a November loss? Time will tell,” wrote Ward.
Pickens is correct that he’s receiving a fresh start. But he will only benefit if he changes the negative behavior he showcased in Pittsburgh.
Otherwise, he’ll be back to needing another fresh start.
George Pickens Makes Strong Admission on Steelers Exit: ‘It Was Good for Me’