Latest news with #Lamb
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Wide receiver George Pickens fitting in with Cowboys in training camp
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are confident George Pickens the player will be a problem for opponents because Pickens the person won't cause problems in their own locker room. That might be a surprise given Pickens' three often tumultuous seasons playing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was traded to Dallas in May. 'Like, I've seen what y'all seen on film, like, trust me,' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said. 'I know what it looks like. But if you talk to this man and have a decent conversation, I guarantee you'll understand that this man is kindhearted.' Pickens, 24, had multiple notable on-field incidents in Pittsburgh to create a questionable reputation. He had two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 win at Cincinnati last season after having been involved in an altercation with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome the previous week. Those occasions, along with sideline blowups at teammates and coaches, led Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to rebuke Pickens several times, memorably saying ' He's just got to grow up, man ' after receiving two flags but avoiding being tossed against the Bengals in December. The reasons behind Pickens' public persona, Dallas players insist, come from his desire to win. 'He loves football, so that's something that you cannot question about him,' wide receiver Jalen Tolbert said. 'That speaks and jumps off the tape, obviously, and jumps off the field, and obviously in the meeting room, he can do the same thing.' The Cowboys are working with Pickens to reign in his frustrations, but Lamb stressed the how different Pickens is outside the lines. 'When we get on the field, it's a different beast,' Lamb said. 'I expect him to be an animal. But, like, we have an on and off button. Everybody on this field does. On any field, honestly. It's just, man, when you passionate about something, you don't really care what the narrative is around you.' Lamb and Pickens have seemingly become fast friends, often sharing information and dance moves on the practice field. They even worked up an elaborate handshake to celebrate touchdowns, which Lamb said took two days to fully choreograph. 'He's a great receiver, he's a great person,' Lamb said. 'He's everything that the people say he isn't, and I feel like he don't get enough credit for being who he is. But you never know the situation that people are going though, so just being so quick to put a narrative on something that you don't really fully understand yet, I feel like it's kind of jumping the gun. But as for GP, man, he's a hard worker. He wants to be great. He's wanting to learn, and I love that the most about him because I'm the same way.' Despite flashing star potential while putting up solid statistics in Pittsburgh, amassing 2,841 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns even with subpar quarterback play in three seasons, Pickens was as ready as the Steelers were for a separation. As soon as he arrived in Dallas and met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones following the trade, Pickens believed he was in the right place to redefine his career. 'I think I needed a fresh start just in terms of, like you said, people not knowing me,' Pickens said. The challenge now is making sure quarterback Dak Prescott and Pickens can develop an understanding on the field. Their timing, or lack thereof, has shown up occasionally during the first week of training camp, such as when Pickens couldn't come down with an over the shoulder basket catch that hit him in the hands on a deep sideline route Saturday. But once those issues are addressed, Pickens expects to form perhaps the most potent one-two receiver tandem in the NFL. 'A lot of people over the years got different type of styles of play, but CeeDee's a certain type of guy and then I'm a certain type of guy, so when you mesh that together it's like 'Mario Bros,' you see what I mean? So we can definitely do something special,' Lamb said. 'Lion King' celebration Cornerback Kaiir Elam delivered the most memorable moment of Saturday's workout, intercepting Prescott and then celebrating by reaching over the sideline railing to grab a fan's infant to raise over his head with both hands, echoing Disney's 1994 animated hit film 'The Lion King.' 'I'm just trying to give the people a show,' Elam said. 'I seen one of the guys who was like, 'I don't know about this kid picking up my kid.' But the kid was excited, that's all that matters.' ___
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Wide receiver George Pickens fitting in with Cowboys in training camp
Associated Press OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are confident George Pickens the player will be a problem for opponents because Pickens the person won't cause problems in their own locker room. That might be a surprise given Pickens' three often tumultuous seasons playing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was traded to Dallas in May. 'Like, I've seen what y'all seen on film, like, trust me,' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said. 'I know what it looks like. But if you talk to this man and have a decent conversation, I guarantee you'll understand that this man is kindhearted.' Pickens, 24, had multiple notable on-field incidents in Pittsburgh to create a questionable reputation. He had two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 win at Cincinnati last season after having been involved in an altercation with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome the previous week. Those occasions, along with sideline blowups at teammates and coaches, led Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to rebuke Pickens several times, memorably saying ' He's just got to grow up, man ' after receiving two flags but avoiding being tossed against the Bengals in December. The reasons behind Pickens' public persona, Dallas players insist, come from his desire to win. 'He loves football, so that's something that you cannot question about him,' wide receiver Jalen Tolbert said. 'That speaks and jumps off the tape, obviously, and jumps off the field, and obviously in the meeting room, he can do the same thing.' The Cowboys are working with Pickens to reign in his frustrations, but Lamb stressed the how different Pickens is outside the lines. 'When we get on the field, it's a different beast,' Lamb said. 'I expect him to be an animal. But, like, we have an on and off button. Everybody on this field does. On any field, honestly. It's just, man, when you passionate about something, you don't really care what the narrative is around you.' Lamb and Pickens have seemingly become fast friends, often sharing information and dance moves on the practice field. They even worked up an elaborate handshake to celebrate touchdowns, which Lamb said took two days to fully choreograph. 'He's a great receiver, he's a great person,' Lamb said. 'He's everything that the people say he isn't, and I feel like he don't get enough credit for being who he is. But you never know the situation that people are going though, so just being so quick to put a narrative on something that you don't really fully understand yet, I feel like it's kind of jumping the gun. But as for GP, man, he's a hard worker. He wants to be great. He's wanting to learn, and I love that the most about him because I'm the same way.' Despite flashing star potential while putting up solid statistics in Pittsburgh, amassing 2,841 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns even with subpar quarterback play in three seasons, Pickens was as ready as the Steelers were for a separation. As soon as he arrived in Dallas and met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones following the trade, Pickens believed he was in the right place to redefine his career. 'I think I needed a fresh start just in terms of, like you said, people not knowing me,' Pickens said. The challenge now is making sure quarterback Dak Prescott and Pickens can develop an understanding on the field. Their timing, or lack thereof, has shown up occasionally during the first week of training camp, such as when Pickens couldn't come down with an over the shoulder basket catch that hit him in the hands on a deep sideline route Saturday. But once those issues are addressed, Pickens expects to form perhaps the most potent one-two receiver tandem in the NFL. 'A lot of people over the years got different type of styles of play, but CeeDee's a certain type of guy and then I'm a certain type of guy, so when you mesh that together it's like 'Mario Bros,' you see what I mean? So we can definitely do something special,' Lamb said. 'Lion King' celebration Cornerback Kaiir Elam delivered the most memorable moment of Saturday's workout, intercepting Prescott and then celebrating by reaching over the sideline railing to grab a fan's infant to raise over his head with both hands, echoing Disney's 1994 animated hit film 'The Lion King.' 'I'm just trying to give the people a show,' Elam said. 'I seen one of the guys who was like, 'I don't know about this kid picking up my kid.' But the kid was excited, that's all that matters.' ___ AP NFL: recommended Item 1 of 3
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wide receiver George Pickens fitting in with Cowboys in training camp
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are confident George Pickens the player will be a problem for opponents because Pickens the person won't cause problems in their own locker room. That might be a surprise given Pickens' three often tumultuous seasons playing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was traded to Dallas in May. 'Like, I've seen what y'all seen on film, like, trust me,' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said. 'I know what it looks like. But if you talk to this man and have a decent conversation, I guarantee you'll understand that this man is kindhearted.' Pickens, 24, had multiple notable on-field incidents in Pittsburgh to create a questionable reputation. He had two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 win at Cincinnati last season after having been involved in an altercation with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome the previous week. Those occasions, along with sideline blowups at teammates and coaches, led Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to rebuke Pickens several times, memorably saying ' He's just got to grow up, man ' after receiving two flags but avoiding being tossed against the Bengals in December. The reasons behind Pickens' public persona, Dallas players insist, come from his desire to win. 'He loves football, so that's something that you cannot question about him,' wide receiver Jalen Tolbert said. 'That speaks and jumps off the tape, obviously, and jumps off the field, and obviously in the meeting room, he can do the same thing.' The Cowboys are working with Pickens to reign in his frustrations, but Lamb stressed the how different Pickens is outside the lines. 'When we get on the field, it's a different beast,' Lamb said. 'I expect him to be an animal. But, like, we have an on and off button. Everybody on this field does. On any field, honestly. It's just, man, when you passionate about something, you don't really care what the narrative is around you.' Lamb and Pickens have seemingly become fast friends, often sharing information and dance moves on the practice field. They even worked up an elaborate handshake to celebrate touchdowns, which Lamb said took two days to fully choreograph. 'He's a great receiver, he's a great person,' Lamb said. 'He's everything that the people say he isn't, and I feel like he don't get enough credit for being who he is. But you never know the situation that people are going though, so just being so quick to put a narrative on something that you don't really fully understand yet, I feel like it's kind of jumping the gun. But as for GP, man, he's a hard worker. He wants to be great. He's wanting to learn, and I love that the most about him because I'm the same way.' Despite flashing star potential while putting up solid statistics in Pittsburgh, amassing 2,841 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns even with subpar quarterback play in three seasons, Pickens was as ready as the Steelers were for a separation. As soon as he arrived in Dallas and met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones following the trade, Pickens believed he was in the right place to redefine his career. 'I think I needed a fresh start just in terms of, like you said, people not knowing me,' Pickens said. The challenge now is making sure quarterback Dak Prescott and Pickens can develop an understanding on the field. Their timing, or lack thereof, has shown up occasionally during the first week of training camp, such as when Pickens couldn't come down with an over the shoulder basket catch that hit him in the hands on a deep sideline route Saturday. But once those issues are addressed, Pickens expects to form perhaps the most potent one-two receiver tandem in the NFL. 'A lot of people over the years got different type of styles of play, but CeeDee's a certain type of guy and then I'm a certain type of guy, so when you mesh that together it's like 'Mario Bros,' you see what I mean? So we can definitely do something special,' Lamb said. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Lion King' celebration Cornerback Kaiir Elam delivered the most memorable moment of Saturday's workout, intercepting Prescott and then celebrating by reaching over the sideline railing to grab a fan's infant to raise over his head with both hands, echoing Disney's 1994 animated hit film 'The Lion King.' 'I'm just trying to give the people a show,' Elam said. 'I seen one of the guys who was like, 'I don't know about this kid picking up my kid.' But the kid was excited, that's all that matters.' ___ AP NFL:
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wide receiver George Pickens fitting in with Cowboys in training camp
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are confident George Pickens the player will be a problem for opponents because Pickens the person won't cause problems in their own locker room. That might be a surprise given Pickens' three often tumultuous seasons playing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was traded to Dallas in May . 'Like, I've seen what y'all seen on film, like, trust me,' wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said. 'I know what it looks like. But if you talk to this man and have a decent conversation, I guarantee you'll understand that this man is kindhearted.' Pickens, 24, had multiple notable on-field incidents in Pittsburgh to create a questionable reputation. He had two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a Week 13 win at Cincinnati last season after having been involved in an altercation with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome the previous week. Those occasions, along with sideline blowups at teammates and coaches, led Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to rebuke Pickens several times, memorably saying ' He's just got to grow up, man ' after receiving two flags but avoiding being tossed against the Bengals in December. The reasons behind Pickens' public persona, Dallas players insist, come from his desire to win. 'He loves football, so that's something that you cannot question about him,' wide receiver Jalen Tolbert said. 'That speaks and jumps off the tape, obviously, and jumps off the field, and obviously in the meeting room, he can do the same thing.' The Cowboys are working with Pickens to reign in his frustrations, but Lamb stressed the how different Pickens is outside the lines. 'When we get on the field, it's a different beast,' Lamb said. 'I expect him to be an animal. But, like, we have an on and off button. Everybody on this field does. On any field, honestly. It's just, man, when you passionate about something, you don't really care what the narrative is around you.' Lamb and Pickens have seemingly become fast friends, often sharing information and dance moves on the practice field. They even worked up an elaborate handshake to celebrate touchdowns, which Lamb said took two days to fully choreograph. 'He's a great receiver, he's a great person,' Lamb said. 'He's everything that the people say he isn't, and I feel like he don't get enough credit for being who he is. But you never know the situation that people are going though, so just being so quick to put a narrative on something that you don't really fully understand yet, I feel like it's kind of jumping the gun. But as for GP, man, he's a hard worker. He wants to be great. He's wanting to learn, and I love that the most about him because I'm the same way.' Despite flashing star potential while putting up solid statistics in Pittsburgh, amassing 2,841 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns even with subpar quarterback play in three seasons, Pickens was as ready as the Steelers were for a separation . As soon as he arrived in Dallas and met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones following the trade, Pickens believed he was in the right place to redefine his career. 'I think I needed a fresh start just in terms of, like you said, people not knowing me,' Pickens said. The challenge now is making sure quarterback Dak Prescott and Pickens can develop an understanding on the field. Their timing, or lack thereof, has shown up occasionally during the first week of training camp, such as when Pickens couldn't come down with an over the shoulder basket catch that hit him in the hands on a deep sideline route Saturday. But once those issues are addressed, Pickens expects to form perhaps the most potent one-two receiver tandem in the NFL. 'A lot of people over the years got different type of styles of play, but CeeDee's a certain type of guy and then I'm a certain type of guy, so when you mesh that together it's like 'Mario Bros,' you see what I mean? So we can definitely do something special,' Lamb said. 'Lion King' celebration Cornerback Kaiir Elam delivered the most memorable moment of Saturday's workout, intercepting Prescott and then celebrating by reaching over the sideline railing to grab a fan's infant to raise over his head with both hands, echoing Disney's 1994 animated hit film 'The Lion King.' 'I'm just trying to give the people a show,' Elam said. 'I seen one of the guys who was like, 'I don't know about this kid picking up my kid.' But the kid was excited, that's all that matters.' ___ AP NFL:
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The ‘special training sessions' that took the Bulldogs to the '95 premiership
'I certainly enjoyed myself. We got off the boat and went to the Pumphouse Hotel in Darling Harbour. I remember somehow ending up in a fountain, then going home with no shoes and cut-off pants.' Hooker Jason Hetherington added: 'It was only a four-hour cruise, but after four hours, most of us were only getting warm – we were only starting to hit it out of the middle of the bat. 'Someone said, 'Bullfrog, we're only getting started, but we're already heading back?' To which Bullfrog then said, 'driver, turn around and go another four hours'. 'We ended up back at the Pumphouse. It was a great night. And it obviously had something to do with our success after that. 'We had been through a bit of adversity, we were inconsistent on the field, and there was the whole Super League thing, even though we never begrudged the boys for signing with [the ARL]. Having said that, I still remind Jimmy Dymock now how we could have won another four or five comps had they all stayed. 'It was hard on them. It was hard on us. But we were all good mates. It was so important we kept that togetherness, which Canterbury is renowned for.' The Dogs won the following week against the Roosters, were pumped 42-0 by the Knights, then went on to win seven of their remaining nine regular-season games. Not wanting to blow their last hurrah, Lamb and Dymock arranged for another bonding session, this time at the Chester Hill Hotel, the week before the finals started. The Dogs finished sixth, and were never expected to advance past St George in week one of the finals. It was not lost on any of the players that they may have only had 80 more minutes playing together. Lamb and Dymock made a point of letting their teammates know how they felt – and made sure not one player would finish the year with any regrets. Lamb was a lot older than most of his teammates, having won the 1984 grand final, missed the 1985 grand final win with a knee injury and then landed a third title in 1988. 'I still remind Jimmy Dymock now how we could have won another four or five comps had they all stayed.' Jason Hetherington The Dogs were no hope of any success in '95 if the group was not connected. Back then, a few beers and banter were as important as running laps at Belmore. For the record, most players worked full-time jobs, and did not live out of each other's pockets, with Thursday night training sessions followed by a visit to the Belmore Bowling Club. 'We had a drink and a feed across the road from the pub, we all sat around having a chat, and even cried about a few things,' Lamb said. 'We knew we were all separating. I was sad. I had watched some of these guys come through as kids in the lower grades. 'That first final the following week against St George was the biggest hurdle. We won 12-8, then our confidence grew, we played Brisbane, then Canberra, and neither of them got near us. Then we did the same to Manly in the grand final. They had only lost two games all year.' Steve Price played a handful of minutes in the 1994 grand final but was quickly told by Moore and Lamb after the Raiders loss, 'you never want to feel this way again'. When the Bulldogs started to veer off course in 1995 at different stages, Price loved how Anderson had a knack of knowing when to bring them back together. 'Chris and the staff had a good feel for when something was a distraction, or there was an issue, and they'd call a 'special training session',' said Price, who was one of the few non-drinkers in the team. 'We'd sort things out, go on a winning streak, and things would be good again.' Price made a point of praising Pay for the way he terrorised a young Gordie Tallis when Canterbury played St George, then left Brisbane leader Glenn Lazarus with a busted rib in the opening exchanges the following week. Pay was one of several Bulldogs known to flatten an opponent. Hetherington said the team wanted to create that 'fear factor', so every time an opposition player got the ball, 'wherever they ran, they knew they'd get whacked'. Halligan added: 'We had that connection and confidence in each other to defend our backsides off for the whole 80 minutes and get a win.' Prop Darren Britt only wishes the Bulldogs could have completed four or five victory laps after the siren sounded with the scoreboard reading 17-4. The bus trip back to Canterbury Leagues Club was fun. Almost as crazy as the trip to the Sydney Football Stadium, when fans were trying to overtake the bus on the wrong side of the road. Halligan had to help John Timu into a cab and went straight to the airport the next morning when they flew to Auckland to link with the New Zealand World Cup team. Despite having no sleep, Halligan thought it would be funny to try and book a seat next to fellow Kiwi Matthew Ridge, who was on the losing Manly side. The grand final celebrations continued through to Wednesday, with Hetherington confirming coach Anderson was one of the last few still standing at the East Hills Hotel. Fast-forward 30 years, and Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo still appreciates the need for a tight group above anything else. The alcohol consumption is nowhere near their Dogs predecessors – many of the current players do not drink – but they spend plenty of time together, even bunkering down in hotels before every game, including home games in Sydney. The 1995 team joined them for dinner at Brighton Le Sands on Saturday night. Will history repeat itself for the club in 2025? What the 1995 Dogs think of the class of 2025 There are so many similarities between the 1995 and 2025 Canterbury teams. Just ask the club's premiership winners from 30 years ago. For starters, there is the hurt from losing a big finals game the year before. Canterbury lost to Manly in the first week of the finals last year, while the 1995 team dropped the 1994 grand final against Canberra. There is the lack of respect from the outside world, with most rival fans not expecting the Belmore club to go all the way. 'I'm happy for us to keep going under the radar and for people to keep talking up the likes of Canberra and Brisbane and Penrith and Melbourne,' 1995 fullback Rod Silva said. Then there is the unrelenting defence. Loading 'I like their effort in defence and by the looks of it, the players have a lot of trust in the group,' Jason Hetherington said. 'They've got consistent line speed, and they get numbers in tackles. 'It's not beyond them to win it this year, and that's because what they're doing defensively will hold them in good stead. Defence wins big games.' Club legend Terry Lamb, who still works at the Bulldogs, said: 'This team is united like we were. They were beaten by Manly in the final last year, which may have given them a bit of a rocket. It was an ugly win last week, but it might have also been what they needed to get back into that top form. A grand final win 30 years on would be nice.'
