When the Dallas Cowboys traded for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens, while some fans were over the moon about the move, others immediately focused on his on-field behavior.
Seen as a little hot under the collar at times, and easily thrown off his game from a mental standpoint, that looms as the biggest issue many have with the move.
But change is as good as a holiday, and Pittsburgh's revolving door of so-so quarterbacks, coupled with a rather vanilla offensive scheme, wasn't the best situation for Pickens.
In a conference call on Thursday, Pickens knows he comes to The Star with something to prove as far as his character and on-field antics go, but he appears to be already turning over a new leaf before he sets foot in Dallas.
"I'm gonna take it one day at a time," Pickens said. "Everybody in the world is working on growing and bettering themselves. I feel like growth is me moving in a great direction and coming to the Cowboys. … Working every day. That's how you build a winning culture in any sport. I'm gonna be working every day."
So George is self-aware of his shortcomings over the three years he has been in the league.
A fiery character who embodies, for some, the ideal traits in a true No. 1 receiver, Pickens has often let his emotions get the better of him, sometimes to the detriment of the team.
He knows he must get better, and the journey that is personal growth isn't straightforward, but George appears determined to take it seriously.
One way to do that? Allow Dak Prescott - one of the best leaders in the NFL - to serve as a "big brother'' of sorts.
Wisely, Pickens reached out to Dak almost immediately upon learning he'd been traded.
"One of the first guys I was definitely (touched based) with was Dak," Pickens said. "Just watching his game over the years, he's a very prolific quarterback. Smart QB at that. I'm just glad to be working with him."
If that fiery side of him is kept in check by himself and Dak the new locker room leaders, then we might see Pickens flourish in Schottenheimer's offense, and that will put the narrative surrounding him to bed once and for all.
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