The Pittsburgh Steelers may have emerged victorious in their crucial Week 13 divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, but rising star wide receiver George Pickens found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Despite an impressive stat line of 74 yards and a touchdown on just three catches, the third-year pro drew two costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that left head coach Mike Tomlin visibly frustrated.
“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin declared in his postgame press conference. “This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”
A Pattern of Fiery Incidents
Pickens, a 2022 second-round draft pick out of Georgia, has made headlines for his on-field antics before. Just last week, he was involved in a scuffle with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during a Hail Mary attempt. Earlier this season, the NFL fined Pickens for writing an explicit message on his eye black during a primetime game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday’s infractions included spiking the ball at a group of Bengals defenders after a 21-yard catch in the first quarter, which negated most of the gain, and an apparent gun-like gesture following an acrobatic 36-yard reception in the third quarter. The latter penalty backed Pittsburgh up to the 28-yard line, leading to a blocked field goal attempt that could have proven costly in the 44-38 nail-biter.
Pickens Downplays Incidents
For his part, Pickens seemed unfazed by the flags and his coach’s public callout. “To be honest, it was kind of a ticky-tack game,” he shrugged in a postgame interview. “I’m just glad we came out with the dub.” The 23-year-old insisted the officials misinterpreted his hand gesture, claiming he was merely signaling for a first down.
They said they got the gesture wrong. You know what I mean? Thought it was something else.
– George Pickens
Veterans Lend Counsel
Several Steelers veterans, including quarterback Russell Wilson and offensive tackle Broderick Jones, a former college teammate of Pickens, were seen talking with the fiery wideout on the sidelines in an effort to help him rein in his emotions.
“I just think that you just got to understand that when you’re at one of the best receivers in the world, everybody’s going to have their eyes on you,” Wilson said of his advice to the young star. “Just you got to understand that just to stay neutral, stay poised in those moments and still bring excitement.”
Talent vs. Temperament
There’s no denying Pickens’ immense talent and potential. His acrobatic catches and game-breaking ability have drawn comparisons to some of the NFL’s elite playmakers. But as the Steelers make a push for the playoffs in a tight AFC North race, they’ll need their budding superstar to channel his passion productively and avoid self-inflicted wounds.
When you’re one of the best in the world, you expect to make those plays, and you don’t need to do anything extra necessarily.
– Russell Wilson
The Steelers, at 8-3, are right in the thick of the postseason chase. But with crucial games against the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots looming in the coming weeks, they can ill afford the kind of mental lapses that could derail their Super Bowl aspirations. For Pittsburgh to reach its full potential, George Pickens will need to heed his coach’s words and let his play do the talking.
As the stretch run begins, all eyes will be on the Steelers’ mercurial young star, waiting to see if he can rise above the noise, master his emotions, and help lead his team to glory. The talent is undeniable; the question is whether the temperament will catch up in time for a title run.
