Wide receiver George Pickens of the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t necessarily say anything wrong during his first media appearance since his eventful Week 5 performance, but his tone and brevity left room for criticism.
That was the general consensus among Steelers media and fans after Pickens spoke to reporters on October 10.
The most notable moment came when Pickens was asked if he felt he was being used effectively in the Pittsburgh offense. His simple response: “Yeah.”
This answer didn’t go over well on X (formerly Twitter).
One fan tweeted, “He’s kind of a petulant idiot. Certainly not the attitude of a champion. No accountability for anything. I think I’m done with him. Next?”
Another said, “Vibe of a kid that’s been scolded and being a good boy now.”
A third fan posted a GIF of Marshawn Lynch’s famous Super Bowl press conference, suggesting Pickens “is a fifteen-year-old.”
Pickens attracted media attention on October 10 for various reasons stemming from the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys—none of them positive.
Early in the game, he caused a stir with a message on his eye black that read, “Open [expletive] always.” Later, he was flagged for tackling Cowboys defensive back Jourdan Lewis by the face mask.
After the game, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin fielded questions about Pickens’ reduced playing time. The receiver participated in 34 offensive snaps, down from his average of 51.75 snaps per game in the first four weeks.
Since then, questions have emerged regarding Pickens’ effort on plays where he wasn’t targeted.
October 10 marked the first time Pickens addressed the media after the Cowboys game, having declined interview requests immediately after the contest.
George Pickens on Earning More Snaps
While the question about his effectiveness in the Steelers offense was tricky, it was fair to ask how Pickens planned to earn more playing time after being effectively benched in Week 5. Pickens, however, said it wasn’t his responsibility to get more snaps.
“Nah, it’s not on me,” Pickens said, according to 93.7 The Fan. “It’s all up to Art [Smith].”
Pickens Defends Eye Black Message
Pickens also responded to questions about his eye black message on October 10, downplaying the incident.
“It’s just eye black,” he said, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
However, the NFL’s uniform policy prohibits personal messages, and Pickens could face an $11,255 fine. He claimed he wasn’t aware of the rule, even when reminded of a similar incident in 2015, when Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was fined for an eye-black tribute to his father.
“Yeah, when I wasn’t in the league. So, nah,” Pickens said when asked if he knew about Heyward’s fine.
In addition, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo reported on October 9 that Pickens had been late to work “on multiple occasions” this season. That may explain his reduced playing time in Week 5, but whatever the reason, the Steelers need their top receiver back to full form.
Pickens posted a season-low 26 receiving yards against the Cowboys.
