Bad News on Cowboys’ George Pickens Contract Talks
For the Cowboys and new receiver George Pickens, there has been much to be excited about here in the early stages of his career in Dallas. Through eight games, Pickens has given the Cowboys the kind of secondary weapon to run alongside CeeDee Lamb that the team has long lacked, and the numbers have been impressive: Pickens has 43 catches for 685 yards and six touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus currently rates Pickens as the No. 5 receiver in the NFL.
The problem, and the reason the Cowboys were able to pluck Pickens from the Steelers for a third-round pick, is that Pickens is heading into free agency. There has been hopeful chatter about the Cowboys locking up Pickens on a long-term extension before he hits the market, chatter that has been amplified by a report from ESPN that the Cowboys have had “internal discussions” about a deal with Pickens, as well as statements from owner Jerry Jones.
“Any and everything about George Pickens has crossed our minds. …” Jones said on Dallas radio. “Certainly he’s a topic of interest and discussions because of the success he’s having.”
Cowboys Not Having Contract Talks With George Pickens
Now, though, is the part of the story in which we forcefully pump the brakes on the idea of Pickens getting a new deal with the Cowboys and keeping the excitement of this offense rolling past this year.
According to team insider Ed Werder of WFAA, there has been no conversation between the Cowboys and Pickens’ people about a long-term extension for the star receiver.
Wrote Werder on Twitter/X: “With a week remaining before the #NFL trade deadline, the #Cowboys have not engaged in contract extension talks with WR George Pickens or his representatives. Pickens is on an expiring contract. Franchise player designation is an option that would cost projected $28M.”
GettyOwner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
George Pickens Projected for $145 Million Contract
Indeed, the Cowboys could franchise Pickens, which would keep him in Dallas for another year, but that option is not cheap at $28 million. It’s not a long-term commitment, though, and it would allow the Cowboys to keep Pickens in town for another year while the team addresses its many defensive holes.
That would probably not sit well with Pickens, though, who came to Dallas hoping to show he can be a No. 1 receiver when paired with a competent quarterback (those were few and far between in Pittsburgh). He’s done that, and should be in line for a contract that Spotrac projects to be worth five years and $145 million.
Putting him at an injury risk for a season at $28 million would obviously not be Pickens’ top choice.
Cowboys Always Planned to Move On?
Complicating matters, too, is the fact that Pickens is represented by the same agency–Athletes First–that represents Micah Parsons. One of the catalysts for the collapse of the Parsons-Cowboys relationship was owner Jerry Jones’ refusal to go through contract negotiations with the agency, as he instead tried to negotiate with Parsons directly.
If there is a hope for a Cowboys-Pickens contract, it would require Jones and the Athletes First honchos to talk. The Cowboys can have all the “internal discussions” about keeping Pickens that they want, but they’re useless unless they’re talking to Pickens’ people.
When the Cowboys traded for Pickens, it looked as though the plan was for it to be a one-year rental, with the hope of a compensatory draft pick once Pickens left in free agency. Halfway through the season, even as well as Pickens has played, that still appears the most likely outcome.
SAD NEWS: Joe Castiglione’s Legendary Voice Falls Silent
SAD NEWS: Joe Castiglione’s Legendary Voice Falls Silent — After 41 Seasons, the Soul of Fenway Says Goodbye, Leaving Boston Wrapped in Tears and Timeless Echoes
When Joe Castiglione stepped into the Fenway Park booth for the final time, even the chatter of batting practice seemed to quiet down — as if baseball itself knew something sacred was ending. For 41 seasons, his voice carried Boston through heartbreaks, miracles, and championships. On Sunday afternoon, it carried one last goodbye.
Castiglione, 77, announced his retirement as the Red Sox’s radio play-by-play announcer, closing one of the most remarkable broadcasting careers in baseball history. From the heartbreak of 1986 to the curse-breaking joy of 2004, his tone — warm, poetic, and timeless — became the soundtrack of generations.
“Every day at Fenway felt like a gift,” Castiglione said through tears. “This city, this team… they’ve been my life.”
For many fans, he wasn’t just a voice. He was a friend. The one who narrated their childhood summers, who filled kitchen radios during night games, who turned quiet commutes into moments of magic. His signature calls — especially the unforgettable
Alex Cora, who was part of that 2004 team, put it simply: “Joe didn’t just describe baseball. He
Over his career, Castiglione called more than 6,000 Red Sox games. He was there for Pedro’s dominance, Ortiz’s heroics, and Mookie’s magic. But beyond the highlights, his true gift was connection — the ability to make every listener, from Maine to Worcester to Rhode Island, feel like they were sitting right beside him in the booth.
“His voice was comfort,” said a longtime Fenway usher. “You’d hear it crack with emotion, and you knew he loved this as much as we did.”
What made Joe different wasn’t just his mastery of the game’s rhythm, but his humility. Despite his Hall of Fame career, he never saw himself as the story. He once said, “I’m just the lucky guy with the microphone who got to tell Boston’s favorite bedtime story — every night for 41 years.”
Still, behind that modesty was a master craftsman. His preparation was legendary — handwritten scorecards, meticulous notes, and a habit of arriving hours before anyone else. Colleagues recall how he’d quietly rehearse names of new players, ensuring every word was right when the red light went on.
His final broadcast wasn’t about statistics or standings. It was about gratitude. “To every listener who turned that dial, who made me part of your day — thank you,” he said, pausing as the crowd at Fenway stood and applauded. “You made my dream last a lifetime.”
As the final pitch crossed the plate, Castiglione signed off in his signature calm tone — steady, heartfelt, and eternal. “For the final time from Fenway Park, this is Joe Castiglione saying… so long, everybody.”
There was no music. No highlight reel. Just silence. And then, a wave of applause that seemed to come from every corner of Red Sox Nation — a chorus of gratitude for a man whose voice defined an era.
In a city that worships legends, Joe Castiglione never swung a bat, never threw a pitch, but he gave Boston something just as rare — belonging.
And as dusk fell over Fenway, one fan held up a sign that said it all:
