The NFL adds insult to Steelers' George Pickens' recent injury with steepest punishment yet
If the general public didn't know the Pittsburgh Steelers had a George Pickens problem prior to Saturday, they certainly do now. Following last Sunday's shootout in Cincinnati, HC Mike Tomlin publically called out his star WR, saying it was time for him to grow up. Well, the NFL has now punished Pickens for in-game actions […]
If the general public didn't know the Pittsburgh Steelers had a George Pickens problem prior to Saturday, they certainly do now.
Following last Sunday's shootout in Cincinnati, HC Mike Tomlin publically called out his star WR, saying it was time for him to grow up.
Well, the NFL has now punished Pickens for in-game actions three times this season, with this one being their strongest yet.
To make matters worse, it comes a day after Pickens popped up on the injury report for the first time all year:
NFL Fines George Pickens for a string of penalties against Bengals
'He's just gotta grow up," said Tomlin when asked about George Pickens penalties during the Bengals game. "This is an emotional game man. "These divisional games are big. He's 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."
Pickens had three fineable offenses against the Bengals, but only was penalized by the league office for two of them. His first was kicking the ball into the stands after scoring a TD, his second was taunting a DB after a catch on the sideline, and his third, and perhaps most egregious, was his gunlike gesture after capturing a first down:
At the time that the fine was handed down, Pickens is still questionable for Sunday's rematch with the Cleveland Browns. He was listed as a limited participant in Friday's report after tweaking his hamstring, though he did speak to the media (and caused another stir) which is typically a good sign for a player's gameday availability.
"Now, history will tell you people like this, they just never get it until it’s too late," said former Steelers RB Merril Hoge when asked about Pickens earlier in the week. "That’s the scary part, ’cause man, I’m telling you, that guy…I watch every wide receiver in football, there’s nobody as fluid. And he gets in and out of breaks. As athletic and pure as him, period? Nobody.”
The truth is, Pickens is on very thin ice in Pittsburgh. As long as his production outweighs the headache he's causing, he will be a member of the black and gold. But there's an old saying in the NFL, and it's one Pickens might find out real soon:
"They will tolerate you, until they can replace you."
