George Pickens contract negotiations: Stephen A. Smith calls out Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for 'highly insensitive' comments

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith blasted Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for his “highly insensitive” comments about WR George Pickens. Pickens is currently in contract negotiations with the franchise.

Essentially, Smith was ticked off that Jones alluded to the fact that Pickens should come straight to him, rather than use his agent. In the same breath, Jones also said Pickens is part of the Cowboys’ long-term plans.

“I’m very disturbed by what Jerry Jones said. I’m gonna call him. I’m gonna go see him if I can, you know, if he will allow me to, because I’m not comfortable with what words I just heard come out of Jerry Jones’ mouth,” Smith said on First Take. “Look at the reporters behind him. Look at their faces when you brought up daddy coming to – yo man, come on now. I mean, that’s a very, very uncomfortable thing. I love me some Jerry Jones, everybody knows that. Everybody knows that’s my guy. I don’t like that. I don’t like that at all. That’s incredibly uncomfortable to say.

“And I know what he meant in terms of a player talking to him and coming to him and saying, ‘I want x, y and z,’ and then going back to his agent, and then all of a sudden, you know what? It’s a different ball game. That’s what he said about Micah Parsons. He had a conversation with Micah Parsons, and Micah Parsons said one thing to him, and then after going to his agent … he comes back with a different spin on it all. And Jerry Jones was really turned off about it. And to use his words, I don’t play that bleep. That’s what he said when he came on my radio show.”

Stephen A. Smith calls out Jerry Jones for George Pickens comments

Jones’ comments came regarding his relationship with agents. Jones has been scrutinized for his handling of those relationships but he does not see it as a concern.

“Again, there’s no issue with me with talking to agents,” Jones said. “I need to do a better job of not getting, ‘Well daddy said I could have it,’ and him going to Momma and Momma, saying daddy said I could have it. We’ve got to get on the same page and I have something to do with that as well. Just got to, when we’re dealing with agents, when I also do visit with players, always have. Sometimes make the deal with the player. Always have. It always works out if he worked without an agent, he’d save a lot of money. With me.”

Due to the current franchise tag, the Cowboys will owe Pickens approximately $28 million in the upcoming season. Pickens was traded to the Cowboys last offseason after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith still has an issue with the way these negotiations are going down with Pickens, Jones and the Cowboys.

“Here’s the issue, Daddy, Mommy, Jerry Jones, watch your mouth,” Smith said. “Come on, man. You better than that. Watch it, because that comes across as very, very wrong. And when you talking about black players, you know how that’s going to be perceived. That comes across as very, very wrong, highly insensitive. You don’t need to be using that verbiage.”

Last season, Pickens had himself a career year. He finished the 2025 campaign with 93 catches for 1,429 yards, nine touchdowns and 15.4 yards per catch.