Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith has a worrisome George Pickens take

The Dallas Cowboys won't be able to sweep the George Pickens saga under the rug.

Even if he shows up to play this season without a new deal — which is a big "if" — that situation will still linger throughout the course of the season.

Pro athletes never forget the way they were treated, and Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith believes that might eventually come back to haunt Jerry Jones' team.

In an interview with the Action Network, the legendary running back predicted this could be Pickens' last season in Arlington.

George Pickens might leave the Cowboys after this season

“The question is, does Pickens feel like the Cowboys did not do them right this year, and have a feeling that they will upgrade him next year, and if he doesn’t feel like they will, I think he’ll be gone,” Smith said.

Despite Pickens' youth and strong season, the Cowboys remain adamant about not giving him a long-term contract extension.

As things stand now, Pickens is slated to play on the franchise tag, making $27.3 million in a fully guaranteed, one-year deal.

That said, watching players like Christian Watson secure four-year extensions this week, Pickens may not feel as comfortable playing without any sort of long-term financial security.

He'll likely skip all voluntary workouts, and even if he's already signed his franchise tag tender, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to see him have a change of mind and hold out until he gets the deal he's looking for.