00:00Hey! It is officially official because it is coming from Todd Archer and not Adam Schefter, ESPN.
00:08As yesterday, Todd put it out there that George Pickens has officially signed the franchise tag.
00:15Yay! So as, uh, which by the way, I did not know this.
00:19Schefter tried to shoehorn it in too. He said he could, he now makes him technically available for trade.
00:25I do. Well, he's got to keep live what he already blurted out a little bit.
00:29So Jim Bowden, the former Nationals GM, that dude is a Cowboys tweeter.
00:35I guess he is a Cowboys fan, so he will randomly start tweeting George Pickens' thoughts as if he's a
00:40reporter covering the NFL.
00:41It's kind of weird. But as he said yesterday, he goes, great, awesome, now it's signed, no drama, hashtag drama
00:48free.
00:49And it's like, no, no, no, no. You don't understand how this works if you think that anything with the
00:53Cowboys means no drama.
00:55So Pickens get it done. It's nice. But I think ultimately this is just logistically the next step in what
01:03is ultimately probably the final year here for George Pickens.
01:07Just by the way, everybody's behaved.
01:10You don't think that one more year of pretty good to very good behavior can change things?
01:16Sure. Like, I mean, it could. It just because I think they feel so resigned to it, it seems like
01:22almost just with some of their action.
01:24It could it could shift. I think there's a ton of different outcomes here.
01:28Ultimately, I don't know that it's likely, but they could end up with a long term extension by next offseason.
01:35George could play out the tag here and just move on in free agency.
01:39George could play out the tag here and they go, you know what? Why not just hold them one more
01:42year?
01:42Tag him again. Or they could flounder, have real issues by week six.
01:48And they go, you know what? Trade him before the deadline. We're one in five. Let's trade him.
01:51Because on the surface, the statement that this is just his final year doesn't make any sense.
01:59No, no, it shouldn't make sense.
02:01You traded a third. He was arguably a top five receiver in the league.
02:07Was.
02:07The leadership loves him.
02:11You have him for another year. He's young.
02:14And you're just resigned to, not you, but we're supposed to just accept and understand that.
02:21But, all right, this will be it. It doesn't make sense.
02:24No, I wouldn't expect people to necessarily understand it.
02:28Because we've talked about this.
02:31We've asked coaches. We've asked various people, like, you know, what exactly is the hang up?
02:39Because, like, we don't see it.
02:40Like, we saw it a little bit in Pittsburgh.
02:41But, like, here in Dallas, what are the quirks that seem to have the coaching staff?
02:46So, he's different.
02:47And I understand they don't want to share all the behind-the-scenes detail, all the dirty laundry that's out
02:52there.
02:52But I also don't think it's so bad that it's something where they can't live with it.
02:57And so, that's what I'm saying where it's like, is he late for some meetings?
03:00I understand that's irritating probably from time to time.
03:04But, I wonder if it's more about stuff like, we can live with the being late to meetings.
03:10That's a little annoying.
03:11It's like the Detroit game.
03:13That's more what we can't handle.
03:15That's what we can't have around here.
03:17All right, one game?
03:18Well, I mean, stuff like that.
03:19Because, like, there was some suggestion.
03:21First game against Philly was similar.
03:22Ian Rappaport had his take on things when he went on with McAfee.
03:27You know, it's a weird thing because we all imagine, like, them faxing him or whatever people do, emailing him
03:33a piece of paper.
03:34I don't know why I said fax.
03:35Emailing him a piece of paper and then just signing it.
03:38But it's actually a little different.
03:39You tell them, hey, we intend to accept this.
03:42And then, like, eventually you physically sign it.
03:46I think after, like, a physical.
03:47So, like, he is accepting the franchise tag.
03:51So, to me, not physically signing it is not that big of a deal.
03:55I would be surprised if he's traded, but I wouldn't be, like, beyond stunned.
04:00Because I've seen this before, right?
04:02Like, the Cowboys have been adamant.
04:05They do not intend to trade him.
04:06Steven Jones has said on the record he is going to be playing for them.
04:09And I agree that is the most likely scenario.
04:13But everyone has a price.
04:14And there is a possibility that someone could say, you know what?
04:17I'm going to send a, what would be a good price?
04:20A two for George Pickett.
04:21A two?
04:22The problem is that's for next year.
04:23So, if you're a good team trying to be good this year, that actually doesn't help you.
04:27So, trades for franchise players are really hard.
04:31And usually they happen before free agency and before the draft.
04:35So, you can replace him.
04:37And that hasn't happened.
04:38So, my guess is he's playing for the Cowboys.
04:40Plays great.
04:42And then next year either signs a huge deal with the Cowboys or walks and signs a massive deal somewhere
04:46else.
04:48Look, I'm just saying.
04:49You can say whatever you want.
04:51He's only saying it, too, because Bobby told him that.
04:53Right.
04:53Look, I mean, I'm pulling the strings over here.
04:56Bye-bye-bye.
04:56You're not the Cogmaster.
04:58Right.
04:59That's Bob.
05:00King of compensation.
05:01In no world.
05:03In no world.
05:04Bobby's in the corner watching me throw out.
05:07Yeah.
05:09He's watching me name the compensation.
05:11Watching me tell you how much he's going to go for.
05:15When Jalen Waddell gets a one and a three and a fourth round pick swap, George Pickens just gets more.
05:22And if you want to hang up on, oh, my God, what's his attitude like?
05:27Is he going to show up late to him?
05:30Is he time blind?
05:32Okay.
05:32Is he time blind?
05:33Is he going to show up late to a meeting?
05:35These guys are focusing on the wrong thing.
05:36It may not be right.
05:39It's similar to, like, discussing with Broadus over the whole idea of small players.
05:43Like, it may not be right, but is it how they do things?
05:46It is how a lot of teams just do things.
05:48They don't like when you're not on time or you're not falling in line.
05:51I get you.
05:52I don't care how a lot of people, I don't care how the cops do things.
05:55Their speed limit things.
05:57You know, I don't agree with speed limits.
05:58Or English.
05:59I don't care.
06:00Or English, right?
06:01I don't care about that, you know?
06:02I don't care what your little, you know, I should get 15 over.
06:06If I'm going left lane and I'm trying to pass somebody, I should be able to go as fast as
06:10I want to get past that person.
06:11And then I've got to slow down.
06:12So now that it's signed, give me the percentages on it was signed to maybe deal him after the draft
06:19is done or signed to, hey, let's get into camps, let's participate, let's play.
06:25So I like the way Ian frames that I think is right, which is...
06:31Because I'm thinking, like, 90-10.
06:32That he's playing?
06:33Yeah.
06:33Yeah.
06:34No, I would say it's probably more.
06:35Demanding to trade?
06:37He is not.
06:38He himself is not demanding to trade.
06:41That his agent demands a trade?
06:42I don't think his agent is demanding a trade.
06:44I think his agent is going to do what he wants.
06:46And so I think that Ian's right in terms of trade is a possibility.
06:51It wouldn't stun me.
06:52It wouldn't be the biggest concern.
06:53Because the Cowboys have shown they're willing to do this before.
06:54The difference is, last year when they were not trading Micah, not trading Micah, behind the scenes, they're going, all
06:59right, what are we going to do about Micah?
07:02This, behind the scenes, they're telling people, all right, George is here.
07:05We're planning for George being here.
07:07Just know he's in the fold.
07:09When you're doing all your planning and you're looking at things, do it with him in mind.
07:12So I would say, yeah, 90, I'd say 95-5 that he's playing versus getting moved.
07:18You surprised he signed it this soon?
07:19After yesterday we talked about making the Cowboys as uncomfortable as possible and waiting?
07:24I kind of wonder if that weird deleted Schefter clip may have just been like, let's move it, just get
07:33it done.
07:34Like, put pen to paper and get it done.
07:36But like we said it yesterday, it was like, and I didn't know it was coming later today, but we
07:41said he could sign it today.
07:43He could sign it July 15th.
07:44Like, it's totally just on his terms at this point when he wants to get it done.
07:47And now let's just assume that he is here and he's going to play.
07:50Hey, Pete Prisco already calling the Cowboys Super Bowl contenders from CBSSports.com.
07:56Have they been thrown into a long shot category?
07:59The four best long shot bets have a heavy, heavy NFC East flair.
08:06And the Cowboys have been thrown into this mix.
08:09So all four of these teams are 22 to 1 or better or worse, however you want to look at
08:14it, in terms of their odds.
08:17Cincinnati.
08:19Bobby, who Bobby called the Cowboys yesterday?
08:22Uh-huh.
08:22Which offended some people on Twitter really bad.
08:25How?
08:26They were like, boy, you're trying to really go the opposite direction of that Homer angle now if you think
08:30the Bengals are in the same conversation with the Cowboys.
08:33And I was like, meh.
08:34I mean, I think they're pretty close to what they did last year.
08:38If Burrow's healthy for all 17, which one are you picking with a better record?
08:42Yeah, I mean, if their defenses are both just, like, kind of a little better, then they're both going to
08:47be competitive.
08:48They're obviously notable additions.
08:50Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Bway, Moffay, Cassius Howell.
08:55So, and they start right off the bat.
08:57They have the bones of a Super Bowl contender.
08:59And with, obviously, Chase and Higgins and Joe Burrow.
09:03So, next up is the Cowboys at 25-1.
09:06The write-up.
09:07Cowboys have been the last two seasons of the outside looking in.
09:10Similar to what we witnessed and discussed with Cincinnati, the blame largely falls on the defense.
09:15Most points per game.
09:16In the nine games, Dallas sorted 30 or more points.
09:19The club went 2-6-1.
09:21All that came, despite an offense that scored 28 a game, seventh most in the league.
09:27So, obviously, you get into all these defensive, you know, they start talking about, you know,
09:31league-high 4,200 yards, yada, yada, yada.
09:35And then all these changes should elevate the defense to a respectable level.
09:40I mean, that's all it takes.
09:42Respectable level.
09:43Well, I should.
09:45Hold on.
09:46Respectable level is, in theory, all it should take.
09:48If your offense duplicates what it did last year.
09:51I don't know that it will.
09:52They may take a step back.
09:53Yeah.
09:53Last year, there was a lot about them that was operating at a really high,
09:58just as unsustainable as the defense felt.
10:00It felt at times like the offense was unsustainable and the types of, like,
10:03oh, you're going six straight series without punting the ball.
10:05Like, it was really good, but you're not going to be able to bank on Dak being healthy all the
10:08time.
10:09So, Javante with his good of a year.
10:11Yeah.
10:11Little bit of offensive regression, probably, I would imagine.
10:15And you just need to hope that the gap closes with how much you create on the defensive side.
10:22They've got Minnesota at 55-1 as a decent long shot.
10:26R.J.'s Vikings.
10:28Which I, and.
10:29Dude, the Justin Jefferson press conferences, I just have to go through all of it to see the shots at
10:36J.J. McCarthy.
10:37He does not like him.
10:38And he's had some really mid-quarterback play throughout his time in Minnesota.
10:42Sounds like a personality clash.
10:44Is that what that, do you think that is?
10:45That's what it sounds like is Minnesota's issue with him in general.
10:48That there's just.
10:49Did you see him at the hockey game, like, last week or a week and a half ago?
10:53You just see the douche up there in the ball.
10:55It's just, it's pouring out of the sweet.
10:57It is pouring.
10:57He's not Michigan, man.
10:59I'm surprised he didn't have his eye black on at the hockey game.
11:02Washington at 65-1, not a long shot, they say.
11:05And then the Giants at 70-1.
11:08This is to win it all?
11:09Yeah, these are long shot NFL Super Bowl, you know, bets.
11:14And from who?
11:15CBS.
11:15So Dallas, Washington, and the Giants all in there.
11:18Yeah, all of them in there.
11:20And then the AFC and NFC North team.
11:22I'm telling you.
11:22Throw the Saints in there if you want to talk a bit about real long shots.
11:27877-881-1053 in order to hit us up here on DFW Sports Station.
11:32Deshaun Watson, Mary Kay Cabot, lighting up Cleveland Twitter yesterday.
11:38The Browns insider saying that Deshaun Watson took the lead in the quarterback competition
11:43after last week's voluntary minicamp and now has the inside track to be their starter in 2026.
11:50Shador got a lot of first-team reps as well.
11:53But right now, Watson leads the way.
11:55And then she doubled down and said, let's just stop all the drama, name Watson the starter,
12:00and let's go ball out.
12:03Okay.
12:03That's, I mean, given what we've seen from him, that's, I don't know that he's just defaulted.
12:09You get everything.
12:10He is, I understand that whole situation that came about with all the accusations
12:16and all the various civil suits and everything else is like a big deal that would weigh on anybody.
12:21I don't understand how it would break somebody in a game as badly as it did,
12:26which makes me think like he's broken in some other way.
12:28All right, so you're a Browns fan.
12:29Be a member of the Dog Pound.
12:31And you got to answer who you would prefer to start the Browns season.
12:37I'm going Watson.
12:38I don't believe in Shador.
12:40I don't think Shador can be the guy.
12:43Deshaun is just 30 years old.
12:45We paid him all this money.
12:47Let's see if we can get this thing going for four or five years with Watson going back to his
12:54Houston days.
12:55I would root for Deshaun to win it.
12:57Now, you could say in your mind you're mentally detached and you already decided Watson's done,
13:02so let's roll the dice with the young guy.
13:04Where are you going?
13:05Or Dylan Gabriel.
13:07I'm going with neither.
13:10Now, Deshaun will start the year.
13:11He will win the starting job.
13:13By the end of the year, this is Taylor Green's team.
13:16Oh, my God.
13:17Stop.
13:18Call the Hogs.
13:19Who he paid for.
13:20He's for the pig people.
13:22He's the Arkansas quarterback.
13:24He's the Arkansas quarterback that just got picked at like the seventh round or whatever it was.
13:28He will beat them all out, and he'll be the starting quarterback in December.
13:31It feels like your Patriot call with that Bailey Zappi.
13:35I mean, that works for a couple of weeks.
13:37I got it for a couple of weeks that worked.
13:39Okay.
13:39Who's your answer?
13:40If I'm a Browns fan, I got to look at myself and say, like, I want a Super Bowl.
13:44So, who is going to put me in the best position to have a happy ending as a Browns fan?
13:49And I'm going to say that that would be Watson.
13:51That would be Watson.
13:51You want a happy end.
13:52Was that your joke you were leading up to?
13:54No, no, no.
13:54Just I'm thinking, like, hey, I'm tired of all this misery.
13:57How do I enjoy some success?
13:58I think Watson gives me the best chance with a chance to pivot to Shredor if it goes bad early.
14:04I'm going to Sean.
14:06Don't feel great about it.
14:07Sean Week 1.
14:08He's got to win the job.
14:09I mean, you're spending all this money.
14:11You absolutely want him to win the job.
14:13I mean, nobody else has been broken like that before in sports that I can remember.
14:17It's Bellinger, maybe?
14:18That'd be it.
14:18That's crazy.
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