CINCINNATI — Third-year Pittsburgh Steelers large receiver George Pickens drew the ire of his head coach for drawing two expensive unsportsmanlike conduct penalty flags in Sunday’s 44-38 win in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“He is simply acquired to develop up, man,” coach Mike Tomlin stated. “That is an emotional recreation, man. These divisional video games are huge. He acquired a goal on his again as a result of he is George, he understands that. However he is acquired to develop up. He is acquired to develop up in a rush.”
Pickens, who was additionally concerned in a scuffle with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II throughout a Hail Mary try final week, led the Steelers with 74 yards receiving on three catches with a landing, however he drew 15-yard penalties after two of his catches. He additionally punted the ball into the stands after scoring the 17-yard landing within the first quarter, a celebration that would earn him a superb from the NFL.
After the sport, Pickens stated there wasn’t something he wanted to do in a different way in these conditions.
“No, actually, like I stated, I can simply maintain working my routes, maintain enjoying,” he stated. “We acquired refs on the market to make sure requires sure penalties, sure flags. If they do not make it, then I am fairly certain they’re going to take it up [inaudible].”
He added: “To be sincere, it was type of a ticky-tack recreation, and I am simply glad we got here out with the dub.”
Pickens was known as for his first unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as he threw the ball down at a gaggle of Bengals defenders after making a 21-yard snag on the third drive of the primary quarter. The Steelers had been nonetheless credited with the primary down, however the penalty resulted in only a 6-yard acquire.
Then within the third quarter, Pickens was flagged for one more unsportsmanlike penalty when he appeared to make a gun-like gesture after a 36-yard acquire on a moon ball from Russell Wilson that might have put the Steelers on the 13-yard line.
As a substitute, the Steelers had been backed as much as the 28, and after three unsuccessful performs, the workforce introduced out Chris Boswell to attempt a subject purpose. Boswell’s kick was blocked — his first ever unsuccessful subject purpose try at Paul Brown Stadium — and the Steelers turned the ball again over to the Bengals with only a six-point lead.
Afterward, Pickens stated the official misinterpreted his hand sign.
“They stated they acquired the gesture fallacious,” Pickens stated. “You understand what I imply? Thought it was one thing else. You’ll be able to’t harm the workforce. I by no means meant to harm the workforce, however he simply thought the gesture was completely different. … I used to be doing the primary down; he acknowledged he thought [it was] one thing else.”
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Although that was Pickens’ second unsportsmanlike flag of the afternoon, he wasn’t disqualified as a result of the motion wasn’t directed on the Bengals, referee Shawn Hochuli stated in a pool report.
“The rule of two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls for disqualification actually applies to taunting-type acts directed in the direction of an opponent,” Hochuli stated. “The primary of these fouls was of that nature — his first within the first half was a taunt for throwing the ball on the participant. On the second, nonetheless, it was not directed at an opponent and so it isn’t thought-about a taunt. It is an unsportsmanlike conduct foul however not thought-about a taunt that might apply in the direction of disqualification.”
Pickens has been a frequent headline-maker since he was chosen by the Steelers within the second spherical of the 2022 draft, together with earlier this season when he was fined for writing an specific message on his eye black for the Sunday night time recreation in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys. In that recreation, Pickens earned one other superb for pulling Cowboys defensive again Jourdan Lewis down by the face masks after the ultimate play. Pickens can also be no stranger to altercations in video games in opposition to the Bengals and was ejected within the ultimate seconds of a 2022 matchup for a late hit on receiver Tyler Boyd throughout an onside kick try.
Pickens was annoyed early in Sunday’s win when he acquired twisted up with Bengals defensive again Cam Taylor-Britt on the primary sequence and fell to the bottom. Taylor-Britt appeared to seize Pickens’ helmet and pressure him down, however Hochuli stated within the pool report it was “incidental contact.”
“We dominated the receiver stumbled proper off the road after which there was incidental contact that introduced him down,” Hochuli stated. “If there was a possible seize or maintain, that was at an angle that we would not have seen.” Because of this, Taylor-Britt picked off Wilson’s cross meant for Pickens and returned it for a landing whereas Pickens sat on the sphere gesturing to the official over the dearth of a penalty.
“Performs occur,” Pickens stated. “Guys maintain me. I will get held. I am one of many prime receivers, so I will get held. You simply acquired to make performs when it occurs.”
Requested if he thought officers had a goal on his again, Pickens stated he hoped not.
“I am solely out right here simply enjoying like each different receiver within the league,” Pickens stated. “Sure calls do not go my approach. All you are able to do is simply maintain enjoying.”
“He is simply acquired to develop up, man. That is an emotional recreation, man. These divisional video games are huge. He acquired a goal on his again as a result of he is George, he understands that. However he is acquired to develop up. He is acquired to develop up in a rush.”
Mike Tomlin, on George Pickens
Offensive lineman Broderick Jones, who spent two years with Pickens at Georgia, tried to calm his teammate down throughout the recreation, speaking with him intently on the sphere after the penalties.
“I do not try to give him an entire speech or whatnot, only a couple phrases of encouragement or simply, ‘Be good,'” Jones stated. “‘All people is aware of you are a playmaker, we simply acquired to cease the silly issues.’ That is with me, too, as properly. He talks to me as properly, so I try to do the identical factor for him.
“We simply try to maintain one another in line and simply ensuring now we have one another’s backs.”
Wilson stated he additionally talked to Pickens throughout the recreation about retaining his feelings in test, reminding him on the sideline that he does not should do something “additional” after huge performs as a result of he is anticipated to make them.
“It is ardour, and so generally that takes over and I believe that simply with the ability to stability it, I believed he did a fantastic job responding,” Wilson stated. “And I simply suppose that you simply simply acquired to grasp that while you’re at among the finest receivers on the earth, everyone’s going to have their eyes on you, and simply you bought to grasp that simply to remain impartial, keep poised in these moments and nonetheless convey pleasure. Do not change that however simply perceive that.
“I used to be telling him on the sideline while you’re among the finest on the earth, you anticipate to make these performs, and also you needn’t do something additional essentially. … He is studying it as we go. He is acquired to be smarter, too, although, and he is going to do this.”
