Classic Cowboys move - kicking the can down the road on a star player. And this time, it's George Pickens holding the bag.

The Dallas Cowboys have decided to play Pickens on the franchise tag this season with no long-term deal in sight. Executive VP Stephen Jones told reporters today that they've decided Pickens will play on the tag, and "there won't be talks on a long-term deal."

Oh, and here's the kicker - Pickens hasn't even signed the tag yet.

Let me break down what's happening here. The Cowboys want Pickens to play this season without the security of a long-term contract. They want him to risk injury, risk his future earning potential, all while they retain control without committing to him long-term. And they're not even going to negotiate with him this year.

Meanwhile, Pickens is looking at this situation thinking, "Why should I sign this tag when they've already told me they're not going to give me a real deal?"

This is the Cowboys' standard operating procedure under the Jones family. They find a star player, they franchise tag them, they drag their feet on a long-term deal, and somehow they're always surprised when it creates tension and chemistry issues.

Pickens is one of the best receivers in football. He's been productive, he's been available, and he deserves to be paid like the elite player he is. But instead of locking him up long-term and building around him, the Cowboys are playing games.

You know what happens when you treat star players like this? They get unhappy. They start thinking about other teams. They wonder why they're giving everything to an organization that won't give them security in return.

And when Pickens hasn't signed the tag yet, that's a message. That's him saying, "If you're not committed to me, why should I be committed to you?"

Stephen Jones can say all he wants that Pickens will play on the tag. But until he signs it, he's not playing anywhere. And the longer this drags out, the worse it gets for Dallas's locker room chemistry.

You've got other players watching this situation. You've got guys thinking, You've got a star receiver who feels disrespected and a front office that seems perfectly fine with that.