Dallas Cowboys’ George Pickens Faces Criticism from Richard Sherman, Responds on Social Media
Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer has addressed the recent controversy surrounding wide receiver George Pickens, who faced criticism from former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on the Prime Video broadcast Thursday. Pickens responded to Sherman’s comments on social media, but later deleted the post. Schottenheimer stated that he will have a conversation with Pickens about the incident, emphasizing the importance of handling criticism in a professional manner.
Sherman’s comments came after the Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, where Pickens caught five passes for 37 yards. Sherman described Pickens as “uninterested” and “disengaged” during the game. Pickens defended himself, stating that he was facing tough coverage from the Lions, particularly after teammate CeeDee Lamb was forced to leave the game due to a concussion in the third quarter.
Pickens’ Social Media Response and Schottenheimer’s Reaction
Pickens initially responded to Sherman’s criticism on social media, writing a post that he later deleted. The post included a statement saying “it’s funny cause I thought former players would know that,” and also referenced Sherman’s time with the “Legion of Boom” defense. Schottenheimer acknowledged that he was aware of the post and would be speaking with Pickens about it, but emphasized that he did not see a lack of effort from Pickens when reviewing the game footage.
Schottenheimer praised Pickens’ overall performance this season, highlighting his career highs in catches (78), yards (1,179), and touchdowns (8), which all rank in the top 10 in the NFL. He also noted that Pickens has shown himself to be an elite player and a game-changer, and that he would judge him based on his body of work rather than a single game.
CeeDee Lamb’s Status and the Cowboys’ Upcoming Schedule
CeeDee Lamb, who had six catches for 121 yards before leaving the game due to a concussion, is currently in the concussion protocol. The Cowboys do not play again until December 14, which should provide Lamb with extra time to recover. Schottenheimer reported that Lamb had a good day on Friday, but would need to go through the necessary checks and balances before being cleared to play.
The incident highlights the challenges that players face in responding to criticism, particularly in the age of social media. As Schottenheimer noted, it is essential for players to handle criticism in a professional manner and to focus on their performance on the field. With the Cowboys’ next game still over a week away, Pickens and the team will have time to regroup and prepare for their next challenge.
