FRISCO - A George Pickens apology is owed.
No, not from him. To him.
At first glance, it appeared that new Dallas Cowboys receiver Pickens dumped on his responsibilities back in Pittsburgh, as he long ago agreed to host a youth football camp this summer there.
Then came the trade to Dallas ... and a change.
Pickens isn't doing that camp.
As an initial response, the host company, TruEdge, announced, "We have been notified that George has walked back on his word'' and added that it "deeply frustrated" about the "sudden decision" and about Pickens' "disappointing lack of accountability disregard for families and children."
Oops.
Now the company is the one "walking back'' things, having released a statement this week that amounts to an apology as that initial email to campers' families had an “inappropriate” tone and “mischaracterized” the situation.
“Regrettably, the language used in our original message mischaracterized George’s intent and actions,'' the company has now announced. "While our frustrations stemmed from the uncertainty surrounding the event, it was never our intention to publicly question George’s professionalism, integrity, or commitment to the community. We now understand that the tone and implications of our message were not only inappropriate but inconsistent with our values as an organization.
"We recognize that he was navigating a significant career transition during this time and that his team kept open lines of communication with us.”
In fairness to Pickens - whom the Steelers traded last month essentially in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick from Dallas - Pickens' decision to pull up stakes in Pittsburgh as he transitions to the Cowboys never seemed all that offensive to us.
We would also note that we wonder how many youthful Steelers fans want to see Pickens now, as opposed to his announced replacement, Pittsburgh tight end Pat Freiermuth.
The Cowboys are taking on a player in Pickens who has behavioral baggage; there is no denying that. But this seems like a case of piling on. So the apology of sorts is right-minded.
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