Stephen A. BLAMES RC for George Pickens trade⁉️ REACTION to Cowboys acquisition 👀 | First Take
Let’s dive right in, guys. We got some breaking news. What’s up, fellas? We got breaking news like 2 hours ago because the Steelers are sending wide receiver George Pickkins to the Cowboys in exchange for draft pick. Sher broke the news and now the Cowboys have officially announced the move comes with the Cowboys needing more weapons to complement CD Lamb. They missed the playoffs, went seven and 10 last season. Meanwhile, the Steelers, they move on after acquiring DK Metaf. Of course, there’s still uncertainty there at quarterback. Dan Orowski was on Get Up earlier today. This is what he says Pickkins makes the Cowboys. Now, if George Pickins plays to the way that he has played over the past couple seasons, this would be a top eight offense in the NFL. I I’ve talked about it. I think this offensive line is going to be one of the better ones in the NFL by the end of the season. We all know CD Lamb is a superstar. Now, you’re adding George Pickinson who averaged 16 yards a catch with the revolving door at quarterback. This has got a chance to be a pretty darn good offense when it comes to what happens in in Dallas. Why do I feel like we always get rosecolored glasses with the Dallas Cowboys when they make moves like this? But nonetheless, RCA, go to you first here. Do you think this move is more about what the Cowboys have done now or what the Steelers have done? I think it’s about both teams. Right. You’re looking at the Pittsburgh Steelers who under Mike Tomlin’s tenure have the greatest tolerance for mccurial personalities. Antonio Brown was there for a number of years where he was one of the best players in all of the NFL and the behavior was what we eventually saw. Coach Tomlin was able to keep that indoors. Coach Tomlin was able to allow him to be on the football field because he knew that you can’t run away from coaching. You can’t run away from grooming. You can’t run away from helping a young man grow. And they do their best to keep those people within the building as long as the play says they should. So, if this has gotten to a point so early in George Piggin’s career where they can no longer tolerate him, where they can no longer make a relationship between this wide receiver and the organization work, then that’s a problem to me. That’s a red flag to me. And now, if you’re the Dallas Cowboys, yes, it seems like a home run from a physical standpoint, what he adds to this offense. CD Lamb doesn’t have to get the yman share of all the targets. Now, you have a 1A and a 1B. You’ve bolstered the backfield. Your offensive line is going to be extremely good. And you have a quarterback that at one point in his career, only two years ago, finished second in the MVP voted. But what does a brand new head coach do to integrate this man into the locker room? He’s already talking about culture, Shay. He’s already talking about culture, doggy. He said Michael Parsons needs to be next to Dak Prescott. Well, if you’re going to do that, George Piggin needs to be in between both of them. Yeah, listen, I think on paper you’d have to say Dallas did a great job here because they gave up their picks and he’s got the potential at times to be a great receiver. No question about it. Now, I don’t know when his contract’s up this year. This year. So, the Steelers don’t want to pay $130 million to Metaf and they don’t want to pay $130 million to Pickkins who’s going to want a lot of money. So, keep that in mind, too. It’s a financial thing. And I do think Rogers is going to play. I know the owner said at the draft, we are optimistic that Rogers will decide to play football. So, I don’t think this is, you know, all is not lost with the Steelers, but this is what it tells you. They obviously got fed up with him because he’s, you know, he is, you know, he has been one of those guys at times you almost get the idea that he’d rather catch 10 passes and lose than catch two passes and win. And I think as a result of that, that’s bothered the coaching staff and Tomlin. And for them to trade him, this is a good organization. for them to trade him would indicate to me that there must be something that we don’t see behind the scenes. Stephen A. Well, before I start laughing about the Cowboys, let me state for the record on national television right here. Uh that I am very very displeased with my man Ryan Clark. I blame him for what’s going on in Pittsburgh. I blame Ryan Clark. Now, I would expect this man, you understand? Who who’s who’s who’s reinvented the word pivot. I mean, in a very, very positive way. Okay? Who’s reinvented the word pivot? I would expect Ryan Clark to have more influence than this. I’m sorry. I understand that George Pickicket can be a headache. I understand it. I understand the two unportsmanlike penalties last year made Mike Tomlin call him out and talk about how he had to grow up. I understand he had the patch under his eyes said always effing open and stuff like that which riled them up. I get all of those things. I understand the details. Okay. But Ryan Clark who I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to ask who the hell is this guy? Who the hell is this guy? Because I was happy for him for getting this position or what have you. But damn, how many years do we have to wait for you guys to find a quarterback? You got Lamar Jackson in the division. You got Joe Burrow in the division. And you’re bringing us Mason Rudolph and Skyler Thompson. I mean, you got to be kidding me. That’s what I have to look forward to. And Ryan and Ryan, excuse me, and Ryan Clark is sitting in my seat, by the way. My seat. Okay. He’s sitting there right now and with a with a straight look on his face just being all objective. Didn’t this man win a Super Bowl championship with the Steelers doggy? Ain’t that that Ryan Clark right there? Isn’t this this dude that’s sitting there having having, you know, this this this just just motivational sessions with Mike Tomlin? Isn’t this this dude that sits before us all doing these phenomenal interviews? Inspiring, motivating, uplifting, except for when it comes to the Steelers. Except for when it comes to the Steelers. It’s driving me nuts. Okay, you I’m blaming you from now on for everything that goes wrong with the Steelers because you’re supposed to have a better impact than that. Now, let me get to the Cowboys. Let me get to the Cowboys. That’s your professional assessment of the look at us professionally. This is ais of it. This is funny. We we we got to get to the Cowboys. So, this this dude is supposed to be a headache. You got a new coach that nobody wanted that you elevated and Brian shot. That’s what you got right there, right? You got him, right? You got Dak Prescott who’s allergic to prosperity come playoff time, right? So, we know that’s going on, right? Rico Dattle, you didn’t even try to hold on to him. You went and got this brother Williams from Denver, right? Because he was half the price. I mean, instead of six million, we’re only going to play three million. I mean, just stop the presses. What a big move for our renegade, right? Which basically means you’re going to be passing the ball all day long. And the more you pass, the more it sets the stage for Dak Prescott to make a mistake when it matters most. Congratulations to the Cowboys. I’m sure it looks good on paper as it always does. I’m sure the Dallas Cowboy faithful is looking around. Already landed for their downfall. Give him a break. Like Stephen like we ain’t even been to OTAAS yet. It’s easy. Hey man, they gave it to me on a silver platter. I’m here minding my business. I’m here minding my business. It’s the NBA playoffs, man. That’s where my mind is. And they will and they go and they do something like this. I’m minding my business. I want to think about the Cowboys, but this is what they want. They got to steal the headlines. They stole the headlines during Super Bowl week. They’re going to try to steal. Now they’re stealing it during the NBA playoffs. Fine. It’s all yours. They’re going to make headlines and you’re going to see Dallas Cowboy fans everywhere. Pickins with CD Lamb and Dak is back healthy. You know, we go with Super Bowl next year, right? You know, we go to the Super Bowl next year, right? Oh, it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. It’s just set up for right now. At least they’re not going to stink in September. They’re going to go back to teasing us into believing that they’re relevant. And right up until around Christmas time or so, a little bit after, and then after that, they plummet. Wait for it. Just be patient. It’s coming. They They didn’t even get to that point to plummet. Last year, you knew he was going to Yeah. Like they they just added a top 10 wide receiver and he’s already planning for Dak Prescott to blow the playoff game. But here’s what I think is interesting. for once in a very different 29 years. We are all actually in agreeance that this move is a little headscratching and you started it off saying this is all about the Steelers and what Mike Tomlin has done. Mike Tomlin doesn’t just let good wide receivers go to a team like the Dallas Cowboys. Okay. Saw it with Chase Clayool no longer in the league. I saw it firsthand because he went to the Chicago Bears. A headache. Okay. the Antonio Brown situation you talked about. And now you have a guy who has been fined 10 times in the last three seasons for different infractions on his football team going to walk into the Cowboys facility with the new head coach and just all of a sudden light the world on fire. It seems highly unlikely. Well, listen, like on the field it might happen. On the field, this might work. George Pickkins is a top two, top three, 50/50 ball catcher in all of this league. When George Pickkins is dialed in, when George Pickkins is involved, George Pickkins is one of the best doing it. I thought he should have been a first round draft pick, but it’s some of the things that has gotten him traded that pushed him to the second round. What I want to know is, do you learn? Right? If you say to yourself, I had a coach, a head coach who believed in me. I had a head coach who was willing to work with me. I had a head coach that was willing to be patient with me. If I wore out my welcome there, what about me needs to change? Can I change those things? Stephen A RC RC, I got a little question for you, bro. I uh have you had George Pickkins on the pivot? No, we were supposed to right before the draft. Why not? And now and now I feel like this is why he wanted to come on. But I’ve talked to GP though. Like I’ve had conversations with him, Stephen A. That’s not good enough. That’s not good enough. the motivational the the motivation and the inspiration that you are accustomed to providing that we see you provide on a weekly basis with one of the best podcasts in America. Damn it, you should have had him on this show when he was a Steeler. I don’t care about seeing him now when he was a him to get us. What difference does it make now? Don’t don’t help him now that he’s going to be a Cowboy. You should have helped him when he was with your boy Mike Tumblin. I blame you. I want the Steeler nation to know I’m blaming you. You should have talked to him. You could have inspired him. You could have showed him the error of his ways and corrected his behavior. Don’t try it now when he’s a Dallas Cowboy. I don’t want to hear that now, Ryan Clark. I don’t want to hear that. He’s got nothing. He’s like, I don’t know. I don’t I don’t really know what that means. From a talent standpoint, this is going to help the Cowboys. if if you’re basing is just I mean he’s a as you said Ryan he’s a big- time receiver they needed another wide receiver I’m sure they didn’t give up a ton of draft picks they do good with the draft anyway Dallas I’m sure they had a good draft with these offensive linemen Prescott’s back it’s a plus for the Cowboys in a hard conference you know because obviously the NFC North ner should be better I mean so it’s a tricky conference but you if you’re a Steeler fan and I know he’s under the gun right now because they lost five games so he’s under the gun but if you’re a Steeler You have to trust that organization that they did the right thing here because in their eyes he’s not worth the other other piece of this. This organization has never actually gone into a rebuild. We’ve never seen it. Right? When you draft Ben Rothberger, he plays for almost two decades and now you’re winning games with Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodes and some of the Kenny Pickets of the world. Right? You’re figuring out a way how to be good enough to not get the quarterback that you need in order to push this franchise forward in the future. gets old after a while. I’m sure it’s frustrating. I’m saying it gets really old. And so now I just if Why lose George Pickis for nothing in the offseason? Get rid of him now. Get some draft picks back. Try to get some capital so you can move up in this next draft and actually get one of these star quarterbacks that will be coming out in the draft of 2026. Final word, Stephen A. What you got? All I know is that if Pickkins was behaving correctly, they wouldn’t even be thinking about getting losing him. they would have had him with Metaf and ultimately they would have quarterback and things would have been better. But somebody named Ryan Clark didn’t do their job and so that’s the problem. Um and as as it could pertains to you doggy, I need you to fix your tie. It’s a beautiful tie but the inside of it too much of the blue is showing. You need to correct that because you know I mean just first off you got a turtleneck on in May. That’s the first thing and it’s in the first because it’s cold. It’s cold where I’m at. Cuz it’s cold where I’m at. I’m in the mountain. It’s cold where I’m at. Secondly, much like much like First Take, where First Take has a strong or when an organization has a strong powerful almost egotistical leader, sometimes even people like me can’t get them to change takes. Okay. Uh we’re we’re going to turn the page. So, first take and the Steelers are kind of close. They’re just the same.
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Ryan Clark and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo react to the breaking news of the Pittsburgh Steelers trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys.
0:00 Is the trade bigger for the Cowboys or Steelers?
3:53 Stephen A. blames RC
11:18 Steelers rebuilding
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50 comments
Toxic player… perfect for the Cowgirls. Drama, drama, drama….
All of a sudden Pickens is trash to everyone just because he went to the Cowboys. Be real bruh
Give us a break Stephen a 😂
Steelers just shot themselves in the foot with this trade.
Pickens is a headache…
Stephen A stay d s*ck***
You are adding Pickens into an environment with Lamb and Parsons? Speak of toxic😂.
Talking about culture then trying to get Aaron Rodgers 🤔
Dallas still finishes last in the NFC East. No O-Line, No D-Line, Mediocre QB, below average TE, and an average to below average secondary. 5 or 6 wins…
😂good trade but SB contending I think around 2026 yeah but make the offense way better
Every time I see orlovsky i see him running out the back of the endzone
dallas is a joke and always will be as ling as geriatric jerry is running the show
Steelers are now the bottom seed of that division
Steelers are now the bottom seed of that division
Rc mad dog this chick good combo when Stephen a is out and Stephen a with them classic buh yes Stephen a should only stick to football and clowning cowboys n clowning LeBron n others on basketball
The Cowboys trade for a whiney temperamental crybaby WR, Who the cowboys are not going to give a new contract so major problems with him from the start
Stephen A is pissed
Now the Dallas Cowboys are gonna win the super bowl again😂just because they got Pickens,Yeah right!now we’re really gonna hear all off season how good the cowboy’s are gonna be!knock it off they still got dak which means there still gonna be wack!
Pickens is going to get 1 on 1 coverage
Stealers not a smart franchise
I love this as an Eagles fan. Cowboy fans who like this trade are the ones who only seen Pickens highlights 😂🤣. I can’t wait for September 💯😂🤣🍿
No one cares! They are still not going to win anything!
COWBOYS TO THE SUPERBOWL
It’s obviously a great move for Dallas. Pickens is way better than any 3rd round receiver. There will be plenty of targets for him in the Dallas offense, and Dallas is a good spot for big personalities. Jerry is going to struggle to resign him next season though.
Keep her !
Niners will not be better. These people no nothing
Thank god I’m a browns fan now. The wife has always been a browns fan so at least we can complain together lol. At least sadness is expected in Cleveland. The Steelers have just imploded. The only sad thing about moving on is they got Howard and not Cleveland
Over the past 5 -10 years The Steelers has become just as inept as an organization as the cowboys!! A whining pouty useless wide receiver only to cause more trouble when they could d4aft a receiver in the last round of the draft just as talented as Pickens
GEORGE PICKENS GAVE UP ON THE STEELERS,,,SHOULDVE TRADED PICKENS DURING THE DRAFT!!!
🐢😂
As a cowboy fan I’m not getting my hope is until we get past the first round in the playoffs
Fire Tomlin asap
Lets start a petition to get Molly replaced she's been in that spot over 11 years it's way past time for a new moderator.. Shae Cornette, Kay Adams, Elle Duncan, Courtney Cronin,… Laura Rutledge would be great… Time for Molly to kick rocks
Did they talk to Aaron Rogers?????
Looking more and more like Tomlin da fkk out here 💯
Best Host Ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep her @espn !!!!!!!!!!!!
AB scarred their front office for the next like three generations of receivers 😅
Why does ESPN continue to let a clown like Stephen A. spout his hate and bias at every turn
😂😂 RC” first you gotta turtleneck on in may” 😭😭😭
😂😂😂
Steelers bottom of the AFC north
Going to the Cowboys is a terrible situation for Pickens !
I’m soo done w/ my Steelers , dumbest front office in history
Why they going all out for Aaron rogers
I do not care what anyone says the cowboy got a steal
If Steelers can trade GP, ESPN can trade Molly for this chick lol
steelers have quite the draft capital for next years draft. we can def trade up for a new qb then. ill hope for rodgers for one year
He’s better than Lamb
Stephen A smith just emotional right now
Good host and I love what Ryan Clark brings to the conversation.