The Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, is known for his backdoor deals, and it is no surprise that he wants the same approach with George Pickens' contract extension. But his recent comments have ignited an NFL investigation.

Franchise legend Michael Irvin has stepped into the conversation, taking direct aim at Stephen A. Smith over his decision to call for an investigation over Jones' remarks.

“We can’t make something out of nothing with this one,” Irvin said in the latest segment of his podcast. “You need to be tested for saying something like that. But I know this just the tip of the iceberg. And Jerry could have not dropped that last line, but it was too tempting and he had to drop that last line."

Irvin’s comment about Stephen A. Smith came after the First Take host said that he was very "disturbed by what Jerry Jones said." Smith slammed Jones for his “Daddy Momma” analogy made during the NFL Owners Meeting.

“Well, daddy said I could have it, and him going to Momma and Momma saying daddy said I could have it,” Jones said, likening the situation to a child going back and forth between parents, with Micah Parsons cast as the “kid” and David Mulugheta and Jones as the two “parents.”

Jones emphasized his preference for negotiating directly with players rather than through agents. That fuels further confusion around talks with Pickens and his agent, David Mulugheta.

And this isn't something new for Mulugheta. He faced a strikingly similar standoff with Jones while negotiating for Micah Parsons. And that dispute ultimately ended with Parsons being traded to the Green Bay Packers.

But the comparison by Jones didn’t sit well with Stephen A. Smith. The TV personality took issue with the framing, particularly given that it involved players of color.

“Just because you're the billionaire owner of the Dallas Cowboys don't mean that you can't receive some heat for the stuff that comes out of your mouth. You can't talk like that. You cannot do that", Smith said on First Take.

Smith pointed out that Jones' remarks were "condescending," "insulting" and would hurt the sentiments of "black folks listening to that."

While Michael Irvin has expressed his clear stance on the Smith-Jones accusations, he also raised concerns about the future of George Pickens in Dallas.

George Pickens May Get "Floated Away" From Dallas

Jerry Jones openly urged George Pickens to drop his agent, David Mulugheta, and deal with the contract signings directly with him.

"Jones said he’s talked to agents over the years and has no issue doing that. But…'If he worked without an agent, he’d save a lot of money.' After a pause, he added: 'With me,'" Mike Garafalo of the NFL network reported.

Such bold comments drew backlash and concerns from fans and analysts, wondering if Jones' insistence on not dealing with agents might jeopardize the player's long-term sustainability.

“So to my Cowboy fans, just sit tight,” Michael Irvin said. “Ride the wave. And I hope and pray that the wave don’t become a wave where somehow George Pickens is floating away from us.”

What do you think about Jerry Jones' remarks? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore