The NFL saw some major breaking news regarding former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens and his contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys. It may end up having a similar result to Le'Veon Bell’s infamous exit from Pittsburgh.On Wednesday, ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that the Cowboys shut down long-term contract talks with George Pickens, who has yet to sign his franchise tag with Dallas. The Steelers, however, have been down this road before.More about the Cowboys not having discussions on a long-term contract with George Pickens and wanting him to play this season on his franchise tender, via @toddarcher:https://t.co/dhbnXe31bJ— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2026Back in 2018, the Steelers placed a second-straight franchise tag on Bell, who ultimately refused to sign the tag and wound up leaving the organization following a season-long holdout. He signed a four-year deal with the New York Jets worth $52.5 million in 2019, which made him the second-highest-paid running back at the time.Pickens, who is looking for a massive $30-plus million payday, could follow in Bell's footsteps if he refuses to play on the franchise tag without a long-term extension in place — another potential contract misstep for Jerry Jones.For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Ex-Steelers WR George Pickens could hold out after latest NFL report