Do the Cowboys Have a George Pickens Problem? | Just Wondering with Norm Hitzges

Speaker 1: On this week's just wondering, we have a potpourri for you. Do the cowboys have a pickings problem? Do the rangers need an ambulance? Is Jason Brunson the worst deal the Mavericks ever made letting him get away? Not Luca, not Steve Nash. And finally, I've got some pretty harsh words for the United States immigration department given what I'm seeing at the World Cup.

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Speaker 1: Do you get the same uncomfortable feeling as I get about the George Pickens situation? Pickens had three troubled years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's no question he's talented, but the years in Pittsburgh were troubled as was his career at Georgia. He exploded last year, though, when traded to the Cowboys to become one of the very best wide receivers in the NFL. But rather than simply let George Pickens leave free agency, Cowboys won't do that. They hit the franchise tag on him. He would then play if he signed it one year for $27,300,000 guaranteed, which sounds okay. And Pickens signed it, and everybody heaved a huge sigh of relief. Pickens wasn't going to be a problem, was he? But in the open market, off the kind of fabulous year George Pickens had, he would have probably commanded a four year deal worth a total of a $140,000,000 with a 100,000,000 guaranteed. It's way way different to play for the franchise tag. One year for $27,300,000. But he signed the franchise tag. So doesn't it sound like he's happy? Well, history tells us to never ever assume George Pickens is happy. Just before and then after Pickens signed the franchise tag, Stephen Jones said the Cowboys absolutely had no intention of discussing a long term contract with Pickens. He would play this year on the franchise tag, and by the way, what that means is if the Cowboys wanted to tag him again next year, they could do so and pay him one year for $33,000,000. So again, he would be underpaid with nothing guaranteed for the future. So is George Pickens happy? He refused to attend the recent cowboy organized training, whatever they are, OTAs. But the word then arrived that he and Dac had had some throwing sessions, and that sounds encouraging, doesn't it? Except, well, when, pressed on that matter, Dax said that they had maybe three sessions, or maybe it was two in late March or maybe early April. That was well before the NFL draft, before Pickens got and signed the franchise tag. Today, June 16, the day this podcast airs, the Cowboys begin a three day minicamp. Now, Pickens is required to attend this one, and if he doesn't, he'll get fined. For the three days, a little over a $107,000, which well, basically, that's chump change when you're gonna make 27,000,000 this year. Will George Pickens be there today? Might Pickens hold off from training camp as C. D. Lamb did and Micah Parsons did? Is he happy? Do the cowboys have a Pickens problem? What do you want from your favorite restaurant? Fantastic personal service, a cheery, welcoming, spotless atmosphere. And of course, great food. The primest of beef, Wagyu and lamb, incredibly fresh seafood, lobster, salmon, shrimp, hall of fame food from a hall of fame restaurant, two locations of Bob's Steak and Chop House, the original Bob's on Lemon Avenue, and the gorgeous new Bob's at Craig Ranch McKinney. Is it time to call the baseball version of an ambulance for the Texas Rangers? We started the week with the Rangers having played 71 games. That means the midpoint of this season is next week, and suddenly it's not early anymore in the baseball season, and the Rangers now have lots and lots of pain. Evan Carter has a lot problem, and the outfielder's gonna be out two weeks for the oblique problem? Three, four, five, six? Yes. They can last that long. And catcher Danny Jansen has a right forearm strain. Now the suggestion is he could be back soon, and so could utility man Josh Smith, but he's been away one and a half months with a variety of problems. And by the way, he wasn't playing very well when he went on the disabled list. Another utility player, outfielder, infielder Michael Hellman, he's gonna be gone for several weeks, fractured bones in his right hand. In the bullpen, three of what the Rangers perceived to be core members of the bullpen, Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, and Jalen Bieks are all out, and there's not much information that they'll be back anytime soon. Now, this wouldn't be such a big problem if the Rangers had a minor league system with a fair amount of depth, but they don't. And by the way, shortstop Corey Seager missed the entire weekend in Boston with a jaw that got banged up in a collision. Through all this, the rangers are thirty five and thirty six. That puts them, if you can believe it, in the very weak American League in a pretty good playoff position. How weak is the American League? When the week started, only five members in the American League had records of 500 or better. In the nationally, 11 teams were 500 or better. Are Texas hanging in there? Hanging in there. Thanks to a really weak schedule the last five weeks, and they can still still edge their way in the playoffs. Heck, they can still win this division. Nobody's running away with this division like several other divisions in baseball has that happening. So Texas Texas still has a strong chance to be in the playoffs. That's if they can get healthy again. And if the starting pitching can stay healthy, which it's been all year so far, and they can continue to pitch at a pretty high level, and if the patched up bullpen continues to hold together, and if they can start scoring a few more runs. That's if. My wife marries the cocreator of full moon healing balm, And I guess I'm the reason this terrific cream was developed. A few years ago, I began getting these huge ugly blood blotches just beneath the skin of my arms and hands. The condition's called senile purpura. And no, you don't have to be senile to experience this embarrassment. It happens as you age. And then to cover it up, we begin wearing long sleeves even when it's hot. It took two years working with a New Jersey lab to refine the all natural ingredients of full moon healing. Gently massage a very small amount into the skin, and within a day, the blotches begin to fade. See now, purpura usually takes weeks to disappear. But this balm cuts the timeline to about a week. And ordering's so easy. Just go to the website, fullmoonhealingco.com. A couple of weeks ago, here I'm just wondering, I presented a hypothetical question. If you could have one Maverick guard that got away back, one and only one, would it be Luka Doncic or Jaylen Brumson? A few of you sent me messages suggesting that I'd gone bananas, which by the way is is possible. I'm sure a few of you might still think that. But after the Knicks won their first title in fifty nine years, led orchestrated by Jalen Brunson, he scored 45 of their 94 points in the final game when hardly anybody else was making shots for New York. 45 in the final game. MVP of the series win over the Spurs. He becomes the eighth man ever to be the MVP of an NBA Finals and win a college championship, which he did at Villanova. And the Mavs, they had Jalen Bronson. In fact, they stole Jalen Bronson with an early second round draft choice. And then the Mavs let him go. Is it the worst transaction ever for the Mavs? Not the Doncic trade, but watching Jalen Brunson walk out the Mavericks door and getting nothing for him? Stolen water media is making a move. After two plus years, it's time to change and keep up with our growth. You can continue to view all eight of our podcasts on our Patreon pages. But now you can get all episodes at www.stolenwatermedia.com. This is a developing story, but you can begin by watching and listening right now at www.stolenwatermedia.com. Continue to find all audio wherever you find your favorite podcasts, and some you may not have heard of, but I think will enjoy. Are you just wondering where your next spectacular vacation will be? Relax. Feel the sun on your body. Let your cares melt away at the all inclusive Cerenian Bay Resort in Southern Belize. It's literally built right on the sand. The ocean, your ocean is just a few barefoot steps away. Laid back luxury, terrific food, a swim up bar, a spa, air conditioned gym, unimaginable service, fishing, snorkeling in gorgeous turquoise waters. Do you want relaxation or do you need adventure? You choose at Ceridian Bay. Mary and I have been there three times, and this summer will be number four. Take a cozy bungalow for two or bring the whole family to villas that can accommodate up to 14. Cerenianbay.com, S I R E N I A N. The sand and the sea are just waiting for you to get here. The World Cup in Canada, primarily United States and Mexico, is now in full swing. The team from Ghana, their World Cup team, is in the Boston area training. They will play their first game of the World Cup Wednesday against Panama in Canada. But they're very solid midfielder Thomas Party won't be there. He was denied a visa application to Canada. Canada won't let him in. Because Partey has been charged with seven counts of rape and one more count of sexual assault by the London Metropolitan Police Department, and he is awaiting trial in England. FIFA said about the decision by Canada, FIFA can confirm the player Thomas Party will be unable to travel to the Ghana team based from the Ghana team base camp in Boston to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, June 17, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government. FIFA then added, FIFA is not involved in the immigration process of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. That means it's up to the host countries, Canada, primarily The US, and Mexico, to make their decision on what players and personnel are allowed in with a visa. Canada, after announcing this decision, said, Canada is proud to be a host country for the twenty twenty six FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians. So I have a question. How did this guy get a visa to The United States when he's under indictment for seven rapes and a sexual assault in London. Our immigration department has kicked hundreds of thousands of people out of this country in the last year plus. They've overstayed their visas, or they sneaked into The United States seeking a better life. Our immigration department kicked out maids, guys who mow lawns, nannies, construction workers, cooks, and fruit pickers. They assure us that they were gonna rid this country of murderers and rapists, and that is their phrase. Though, they haven't updated us on how many of either of those they've actually kicked out of The United States. But here's a guy charged with seven rapes and a sexual assault. How did he get a United States visa? And that's not all. Sunday, right here at AT And T Stadium in Arlington, though for the World Cup, we have to call it Dallas Stadium, which must annoy Arlington. Anyway, Japan played The Netherlands. Two two tie. Very good result for Japan against the Netherlands team. That's outstanding. Of the players here Sunday, there was a Japanese midfielder named Keishu Sano. In the summer of two thousand twenty four, Sano, along with two other players and two other people, was accused of being part of a gang rape. He denied it, but then reports surface that he paid what is being called a quote substantial private settlement with the victim to drop the charges. Is this information well known? Well, it is to the point that the Japanese Football Association publicly categorized the incident as quote a personal mistake. Is that now what we're calling gang rape a personal mistake? And with all the celebrated arrests and deportations by our immigration department, I again have a question. How did these two gentlemen, Partey and Sano, get into our country? Or does having a big job like playing in the World Cup merit them of special treatment?

Speaker 2: And now a word from our title sponsor. Today's episode has been brought to you by Fluent Financial, Retire Earlier, Live Better. And by Bob's Steak and Chophouse on Lemon in Dallas and in Craig Ranch in McKinney. Bob's, a Dallas tradition for more than thirty years.

Speaker 1: If you've enjoyed Just Wondering, please hit follow, and a fresh new episode will land in your mailbox early every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. Should you know a sports fan who might like our work? Please share our contact information with that person. Thanks for listening to today's episode of Just Wondering. I'm Norm Hitschkes, and know that every day I'll be just wondering about something.

Speaker 2: And I'm Mary Hitchkiss, and I'll just be wondering too.

Speaker 1: This is a Stolen Water Media production.