‘Stick A Fork In Them’: Steve Smith Sr. Says Dallas Cowboys Are Done, Defends George Pickens’ Early Exit

FRISCO, Texas — Steve Smith Sr. said the Dallas Cowboys are done on Monday’s episode of ESPN’s “Big Day with Peter Schrager,” a day after their 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The former receiver also defended George Pickens for running off the field at the end of the game.

Dallas fell to 3-5 Sunday at AT&T Stadium after leading 24-10 with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter. Smith pointed to the Cowboys’ defense and to the quarterback change Arizona made in the third quarter.

“You just gotta go ahead and say it,” Smith said. “Man, it’s early, it’s still hope, but you just gotta stick a fork in them. They’re done.”

“They really are done because here’s why,” Smith continued. “That defense is struggling. You put up the stats. Jacoby Brissett was benched. And what did Minshew Magic come in here and do?”

Steve Smith Sr. Points To Dallas Cowboys’ Defense, Gardner Minshew II

With 1:35 left in the third quarter and Arizona trailing 17-3, Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur replaced Jacoby Brissett with Gardner Minshew II. Minshew went 17-of-23 for 188 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, and all three scores came in the fourth quarter.

Two snaps into Minshew’s day, Tyler Allgeier broke off a 63-yard touchdown run. Allgeier ran 11 times for 147 yards and 1 touchdown, and from that run on, the Cardinals scored touchdowns on four straight possessions to close regulation. Chad Ryland had the chance to put Arizona ahead with 6 seconds left but pushed the extra point wide left. He made a 42-yard field goal in overtime, and Arizona finished with a 467-261 edge in total yards.

The New York Giants lead the NFC East at 4-2-1 after their Week 8 bye. Smith put Minshew in the same category as the Giants’ quarterback.

“I love Minshew, but I kind of put him in that category, too, with J.J. McCarthy,” Smith explained. “One and a half games deep. Get his gold jacket ready. Everything is going on.”

Smith Calls George Pickens’ Exit ‘Emotional Maturity’

Video that circulated after the game showed Pickens running through the walkway at AT&T Stadium toward the Cowboys’ locker room within seconds of Ryland’s winning kick. Pickens caught 2 passes for 48 yards on 4 targets Sunday. CeeDee Lamb was targeted 11 times.

Pickens is playing this season on the Cowboys’ one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag. In 2025, his first season in Dallas after a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he set career highs with 93 catches, 1,429 yards, and 9 touchdowns and made his first Pro Bowl. Pickens is not the first player to walk off the field on an apparent loss, Smith said Monday.

“Well, that’s a great sign of frustration, right?” Smith said. “Frustration, disappointment, and people gonna make light of it. He’s not the first player to ever walk off the field on an apparent loss.”

“And I look at George Pickens, and we know a little bit about him in his history,” Smith added. “Sometimes you make the better decision. And if you need to get in, if what you’re feeling is I need to get off of this field right now, by all means, I would say that’s a symbol of maturity. Emotional maturity. He got himself out of the situation where something bad was going to happen. I have no hard feelings for George Pickens for that.”

Cowboys COO and executive vice president Stephen Jones offered a health explanation Monday on 105.3 The Fan’s “K&C Masterpiece”. Jones said Pickens has been dealing with his hamstring and other things that tighten up on him during games, and he did not think the receiver is upset with his role.

“No, I don’t think so,” Jones said. “George has some things health-wise that he’s communicating with the offensive staff on when he’s had some different things with his hamstring and some other things that tighten up on him during the game. It wasn’t necessarily that we were pulling him out of the game.”

Smith played 16 NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens. He made five Pro Bowls and finished his career with 14,731 receiving yards.

Dallas visits the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.