What Brian Schottenheimer learned about George Pickens before Cowboys-Steelers trade

This past Tuesday, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones insisted that wide receiver George Pickens has been "an exemplary teammate" ever since Dallas acquired Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers in May. 

As Jon Machota of The Athletic noted for a piece published Thursday morning, first-year Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer later revealed what he learned about Pickens before Dallas made the trade with Pittsburgh this past spring. 

Did George Pickens earn his reputation during Steelers tenure?

"Different things," Schottenheimer explained. "How much he loved football, that he loves to play the game. You might have to deal with him being late occasionally and some things like that, which sometimes we all oversleep. But for the most part, it was all positive. The people that we spoke to in and around the league...they were very honest."

Schottenheimer seemingly was referencing how Pickens was allegedly "late for practice often" and "late for other things" when he featured for the Steelers from 2022 through the 2024 season. Last December, Pickens reportedly showed up late for Pittsburgh's Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Schottenheimer declined to comment when asked if Pickens has been late for practices and meetings as a Dallas player. 

"Whether it’s good or bad information, you do your homework and that’s part of the process," Schottenheimer continued. "That’s not the only process. The minute I sat down with George Pickens in my office, and we shot some hoops, it was very clear to me, this guy was fired up to be a Dallas Cowboy and excited to help us go win games."

Thus far, Pickens has rewarded the Cowboys for their faith in him. He recorded eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns in Dallas' 40-40 tie with the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday night when Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb was sidelined with a high ankle sprain. ESPN stats show that Pickens leads the Cowboys with four touchdown receptions on the season. 

For what it's worth, Pickens is looking to impress while in the final year of his rookie contract. 

How George Pickens has been "a hell of a teammate" with Dallas

"(Pickens is someone) I’ve seen on film make play after play, and then he shows up here and he’s not missed a beat, and he’s getting better," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott added. "He’s getting older through experience and more mature. That trust just only grows more, and the chemistry is just going to expedite that whole process. He’s a hell of a teammate and he’s always locked in, whether he’s getting the ball or not."

Pickens may get the ball plenty during this coming Sunday's game at the 0-4 New York Jets if Lamb remains out of action. As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Cowboys as 2.5-point road favorites for that matchup.