Latest George Pickens report further proves the Steelers' culture has reached an all-time low
A late-season collapse never seen in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is bringing a lot to light. Just this week we learned of players refusing to play in Saturday's game against the Ravens, saw RBs call out the coaching staff, and watched a team all but quit in a playoff game. But on Tuesday, […]
A late-season collapse never seen in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers is bringing a lot to light.
Just this week we learned of players refusing to play in Saturday's game against the Ravens, saw RBs call out the coaching staff, and watched a team all but quit in a playoff game.
But on Tuesday, perhaps the most damning report yet surfaced, and it concerns none other than suspect number one, George Pickens…
Pickens reported late to Christmas Day game
Pickens sat out the next two games with a hamstring injury. When he was finally healthy, how did he respond? By showing up late for the Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tomlin asks players to report to games at least two hours before kickoff. On Dec. 25, Pickens walked through the media entrance an hour and 25 minutes before kickoff. That was after inactive players were announced.
Mike DeFabo, The Athletic
The reporting aligns with what sources told A to Z Sports regarding the behavior and character of Pickens this year. League sources confirmed that Pickens was frequently tardy, if not absent to team meetings, and was even late on travel days when the team has scheduled team charters for away games.
It's an unfortunate par for the course for Pickens, who was fined multiple times for his in-game actions this season. That caused Mike Tomlin to publicly scrutinize him and say that the talented yet troubled playmaker needs to grow up.
'He's just gotta grow up," said Tomlin when asked about George Pickens penalties during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. "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."
But it seems that the message was nothing more than a word salad from Coach Tomlin. While there has been a lot of talk about trading Tomlin due to six straight first-round exits and eight overall in his Steelers tenure, if Art Rooney pulls the plug, it won't be because of the product on the field.
It will be because Coach Tomlin has lost the locker room.
Judging by the team's actions this season and especially down the stretch, that may have already happened in Pittsburgh.