George Pickens Vanishes in Crucial Matchup, and Richard Sherman Isn’t Holding Back
In a game that had playoff implications and no shortage of storylines, one moment stood out-and not for the right reasons. George Pickens, the talented but often polarizing wide receiver, was a non-factor when his team needed him most. And former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman didn’t mince words about it.
During a national broadcast breakdown, Sherman took aim at Pickens’ body language and effort, especially in the second half. “He looked uninterested,” Sherman said bluntly.
“Uninterested in playing football. That’s what you can’t have.
If you’re going to be a superstar, if you want to be the best receiver in the National Football League, you can’t ever be disengaged.”
And that’s the heart of it. This wasn’t about a bad stat line-though five catches on nine targets for just 37 yards isn’t exactly lighting it up.
It was about the optics. The energy.
The urgency. Or rather, the lack of it.
Pickens has shown flashes of brilliance this season-just ask the Raiders or the Eagles’ secondary. In those games, he looked every bit the dynamic playmaker with WR1 potential.
But against Detroit, he disappeared. Routes lacked crispness.
Effort on contested balls was inconsistent. And when the offense sputtered, Pickens didn’t look like a guy fighting to change that.
Sherman zeroed in on that inconsistency. “You can’t just disappear in these games or else you’re not going to have impact,” he said.
“You can’t be the guy and half-ass it. I’m sorry.
That’s… it’s unacceptable.”
It’s a strong take, but it’s not without merit-especially when you consider the financial decisions looming for teams in need of top-tier receiving talent. Sherman pointed out the elephant in the room: “If you’re the Dallas Cowboys and looking to pay big-time receiver money, $40 million, you have to look at this tape and say, ‘Hey, is this a guy we can trust?’”
That’s the kind of question that follows you into contract talks, especially in a league where elite receivers are expected to bring it every snap, regardless of the scoreboard. It’s not just about stats-it’s about presence. It’s about being the guy defenses have to account for and teammates can count on.
Pickens is still young, still wildly talented, and still has time to flip the narrative. But moments like this one don’t just fade away. They get logged, remembered, and replayed-especially when someone like Richard Sherman, who’s been in the trenches and knows what championship-caliber effort looks like, calls it out in front of a national audience.
Pickens has the tools. But to truly be “the guy,” he’ll need to bring the fire every week-not just when the matchup favors him or the momentum is on his side.
Because in the NFL, talent gets you on the field. But consistency, effort, and impact?
That’s what gets you paid.