Brian Schottenheimer has been through this before, whether as a position coach, or a coordinator or now the head coach.
As much as he wants all of his superstar players to be at every meeting, practice and game, Schotty knows that contract situations can and have altered the plans.
He saw it with CeeDee and Dak, last year with Micah Parsons and now it could be the case with George Pickens, who is expected to get the franchise tag here in the next few days.
"My relationship with GP doesn't change," Schottenheimer said. "Just like it didn't change with CeeDee or Dak when those guys were going through certain things. It's all part of the process. It's the business side of it. Hell, I was talking to CeeDee last night. It doesn't change."
Assuming the Cowboys don't work out a new contract over the weekend, Pickens is expected to get the one-year franchise tag of about $28 million for 2026. It doesn't mean Pickens will play on the tag or even sign it, but it's used as more of a placeholder as the two sides continue to work out a long-term contract, something both sides have said they would prefer.
The Cowboys have until March 3 to use the franchise tag on Pickens or any other player for that matter.
"This is going to play out the way it's supposed to play out," Schottenheimer said. "GP loves football."
Pickens had a career season in 2025, earning his first Pro Bowl was a second-team All-Pro selection. He finished third in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards with 93 catches and nine TD receptions.
