Insider expands on why Steelers got 'fed up' with Cowboys' George Pickens

A recent report revealed that a big reason the Pittsburgh Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier in May was that "a lot of the players" within the Steelers "were finally fed up with" the mercurial wide receiver. 

During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers insider Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offered more information about how Pickens upset some individuals who are now his former teammates. 

"It was so bad that they made the move right now and didn't even wait until later," Dulac said about Pickens' behavior with the AFC North club, per Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "The litany of violations apparently were endless. I remember one of the players telling me last year during the season that the people internally don't even realize half the violations that he commits."

Pickens looking displeased over a lack of targets during games generated headlines but wouldn't be considered any kind of team "violation." However, he reportedly showed up late for Pittsburgh's Christmas Day contest against the Kansas City Chiefs this past December. 

In January, Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo of The Athletic mentioned that Pickens was "late for practice often" and "late for other things." More recently, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter and Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that Pickens "had some punctuality issues" and was known for missing some meetings. 

Pickens reportedly had "a very strong relationship" with Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin over the 24-year-old's first three seasons in the league. That said, it seems Tomlin grew tired of dealing with headaches caused by Pickens on gamedays and throughout in-season midweeks. 

"Mike Tomlin makes all roster decisions, and the only way he doesn't is if [Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II] trumps him and says, 'No, that's not going to happen,'" Dulac added about Pickens' time in Pittsburgh. "But Mike Tomlin had had enough. It just goes to show you how big a problem it had become that they thought they don't even wanna start the season with the guy."

Many thought during the first days of May that Pittsburgh's expected signing of free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers would result in the club holding onto Pickens through at least the start of the 2025 season so the future Hall of Famer would have as many weapons available to him as possible. It's now clear that Tomlin and Co. didn't even want Pickens in the locker room for the start of training-camp practices. 

For what it's worth, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated shared on Monday that the Cowboys hope Pickens will "grow in a new environment." If he doesn't, he'll be little more than a one-year rental for Dallas.