Stephen A. Smith's nuclear rebuke of George Pickens Cowboys-Steelers comp misses 1 small detail

On Monday, wide receiver George Pickens heaped praise on what it is like to be a Dallas Cowboy in the wake of his trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I kind of understand the camaraderie more than I did in Pittsburgh,” Pickens said on 105.3 The Fan. “The Cowboys, it’s like I said, ‘They’re known for the Super Bowl.’ Right? That’s what they’re known for. If they weren’t known for that, then no one would care about the Cowboys. But they’re known for that. Then the camaraderie — other people give that same energy, because they also want to see it again. So I definitely understand the people more here than I did up there, because I’m from the south. That’s a whole other deal.”

#Cowboys George Pickens on 105.3 the Fan when asked if he can see Dallas as his permanent home.

“Most definitely.”

When asked if it makes more sense to talk contract after the season:

"… that's definitely what I want to focus on first…"

(????: @1053thefan) pic.twitter.com/LROTaUoM2J

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) July 28, 2025

Don’t get me started on the “camaraderie” thing. Pickens’ camaraderie will last until the first game he feels like he didn’t get enough targets. Once that happens, we will see how much camaraderie matters.

Also, whether you are from the south or the north, if you play for the Steelers or Cowboys, you should know the last time the Steelers went to a Super Bowl was 2010-11. The last time the Cowboys attended a Super Bowl was when they beat the Steelers in 1995-96.

The Steelers have two Super Bowl trophies since then, and have been in three. Meanwhile, Dallas hasn’t even been in the NFC Championship game since then.

On Tuesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith was asked if he felt that the Cowboys were more synonymous with the Super Bowl than the Steelers were.

“Let’s not insult the American public by acting like there’s any legitimacy to that question. There is none,” Smith replied. “Of course, you’re not synonymous with Super Bowls when you haven’t even been to a Conference Championship Game in 30 years. Let’s get that out of the way. He’s now been contaminated by that fan base.”

Smith then turned the heat on Pickens himself.

”Here’s the deal, George Pickens,” Smith continued. “When you talk about Super Bowls and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are a more successful franchise. Did you know that? Do you understand what the (heck) you’re saying? I mean, you talk about a brother that needs to pick up a book!”

Uh oh. Here we go.

“The Steelers and the Patriots have more Super Bowls (six) than any franchise in NFL annals. The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers won a Super Bowl was 2008. They were in the Super Bowl in 2010. The Dallas Cowboys (five titles) haven’t been to a conference championship game since Jan. 28, 1996.”

Smith then proceeded to launch into a monologue outlining the price of gas ($1.13/gallon), eggs ($1.16/dozen), new cars ($16,300) and homes ($133,000) in January 1996. Not to mention the top songs (“One Sweet Day” from Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men), television shows (“E.R.,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” and “Touched by an Angel”) and movies (“Mr. Holland’s Opus”) from the era.

Among other tidbits.

"You do understand that the Steelers are a more successful franchise?"

—@stephenasmith on George Pickens saying the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls ???? pic.twitter.com/TocWkrMjwN

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 29, 2025

It was an epic rebuke that ended up being a 3-minute, 25-second filibuster.

Just one problem. It, um (clears throat), has been about 15 years since the Steelers last went to a Super Bowl as well.

So, in the interest of fairness, here are some of the equivalent points from 2010-11 that Smith made in regard to the 1995-96 campaign for the Cowboys.

• The price of gas in 2010 was $2.83 per gallon. On average, it is now $3.16.

• The price of a dozen eggs was $1.70 vs. $3.70 today.

• On average, new cars were going for $29,217 in 2010 as opposed to $48,799 in 2025.

• The price of a new home in America back then was $272,000. It’s $416,000 now.

• “Mass Effect 2” and “Red Dead Redemption” were the video games of the year.

• “Toy Story 3” was the highest-grossing picture of that year, and “The Hurt Locker” won best picture.

• “American Idol” (with winner Lee DeWyze), “Dancing with the Stars” (with winner Nicole Scherzinger), season eight of “NCIS,” and “The Mentalist” were the top shows of 2010.

• Ke$ha’s “Tik-Tok” was the No. 1 song in America that year. “Speak Now” (Taylor Swift), “I Dreamed a Dream” (Susan Boyle) and “Recovery” (Eminem) were 2010’s top-three albums.

Also, the last time the Steelers won a playoff game (something the Cowboys have done more recently) was Jan. 15, 2017. That was five days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The first one.

Yeah. I hate to say it, but it’s been a minute for the Steelers too, Stephen A. Perhaps those of us in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Especially if that stone was being thrown by Russell Wilson. Then, it’d likely be intercepted for a touchdown by Marlon Humphrey.

MARLON HUMPHREY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/LOMbBM914K

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 21, 2024

Listen: Tim Benz looks at George Pickens’ quotes about being traded from Pittsburgh to Dallas