The Cowboys took a tough loss Thursday night, but the story didn’t end when the clock hit zero. George Pickens fired back at Richard Sherman on social media — then deleted it — and now coach Brian Schottenheimer says he plans to talk with him about the outburst. And for many fans, this type of emotional reaction looks familiar.
Schottenheimer Plans to Talk With Pickens After Deleted Post
Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Friday he’ll be checking in with George Pickens after the receiver posted — then quickly deleted — a message aimed at former All-Pro Richard Sherman. Sherman had called Pickens “uninterested” and “disengaged” during the Cowboys’ 44–30 loss to Detroit.
Schottenheimer hasn’t spoken with Pickens yet but said he wants to “check on him” and keep things in perspective. “This is unfortunately part of the profession,” he said.
Pickens finished with five catches for 37 yards — none longer than 10 yards, a first for him this season. After the game, Pickens said he didn’t “disappear,” but was facing tight coverage, especially once CeeDee Lamb exited with a concussion.
On Friday, Pickens doubled down on social media, calling out Sherman and writing that Sherman “AIN’T SHH WITHOUT THE LEGION OF BOOM.” He later deleted the post.
And this is the part that raised eyebrows: this type of overly emotional reaction is exactly why many around the league believe the Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to trade Pickens in the first place.
A Conversation, Not a Crisis
After reviewing the film, Schottenheimer rejected the idea that Pickens lacked effort.
He pointed to Pickens’ full-season production — career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns — reminding everyone how quickly the narrative can turn, much like how Lamb bounced back earlier this year after a rough game.
Pickens ranks inside the top 10 in the NFL in receptions (78), yards (1,179), and touchdowns (eight). That’s not the stat line of someone who’s checked out.
This doesn’t look like a locker-room disaster. Schottenheimer’s tone was more “let’s talk” than “take action,” and Pickens continues to deliver on the field.
But his latest emotional flare-up fits the pattern that followed him out of Pittsburgh — a reminder that talent isn’t the only thing teams weigh. For Dallas to stay on track, they’ll want Pickens focused on making plays, not posts.
