Pittsburgh Steelers large receiver George Pickens mentioned he was unaware of the NFL rule prohibiting gamers from writing messages on their eye black throughout video games.
Pickens wrote a message that included an expletive throughout Pittsburgh’s 20-17 loss to Dallas on Sunday evening. The third-year professional completed with three catches for a season-low 26 yards in opposition to the Cowboys with the phrase “open (expletive) all the time” stretched beneath his eyes and throughout his nostril.
“By no means seen (the rule) earlier than,” Pickens mentioned Thursday. “Have you ever seen it earlier than?”
When it was identified the defensive deal with Cam Heyward was fined in 2015 for writing the nickname of his father — former NFL operating again Craig “Ironhead” Heyward — on his eye black, the 23-year-old shrugged.
“Years in the past, once I wasn’t within the league?” Pickens responded. “No.”
Pickens mentioned “it was simply eye black” when requested if there was any intent behind the choice and mentioned he had not but heard from the league about any potential fines.
The attention black was simply a part of an eventful evening for the proficient however risky Pickens, who leads the Steelers in receptions (23) and yards (310) by a large margin. Pickens additionally dragged Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis to the bottom by his facemask on the sport’s remaining play and slammed his helmet so onerous on the finish of a scoreless Pittsburgh possession that it bounced over the bench.
“You already know when it is third down, and you do not convert (you are annoyed),” Pickens mentioned. “Lots of followers [were] mad as properly.”
Outwardly, it appeared Pickens’ anger wasn’t reserved for between the traces. He performed a career-low 34 snaps, which coach Mike Tomlin described as load administration. Pickens sat alone on the bench for prolonged stretches within the second half, with injured veteran operating again Cordarrelle Patterson one of many few teammates who came to visit to verify on him.
“You’ve got undoubtedly obtained to really feel for him,” Steelers quarterback Justin Fields mentioned. “He is simply passionate concerning the recreation. … The largest factor is simply being affected person and him ready for the ball to return his means as a result of on the finish of the day defenses know that we’re attempting to get him the ball.”
Pickens mentioned he had no difficulty with the dip in enjoying time and put the accountability on the scheme put collectively by first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“It is not on me,” Pickens mentioned. “It is all as much as Artwork.”
Smith downplayed his determination, declaring he restricted snaps for gamers similar to operating again Derrick Henry and large receiver A.J. Brown when he was serving as offensive coordinator in Tennessee to maintain them recent.
It did not assist that the Steelers passing recreation sputtered at instances — notably within the first half — on the way in which to a second straight defeat following a 3-0 begin. Smith believes the questions could be completely different if Pittsburgh had been capable of maintain on late.
“You lose a recreation and one thing could look off or no matter, however that is not how we talk,” he mentioned. “Any participant, whether or not it is Scotty [Miller] or Van [Jefferson] or Connor Heyward, guys know the(ir) roles … the way you bundle issues. These are week-to-week issues.”
Smith did not see Pickens throw his helmet however dismissed the thought it was a priority.
“George is an emotional man,” Smith mentioned. “He does that each recreation.”
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Smith likened an NFL sideline to the film “The Truman Present,” that means cameras choose up every thing and typically moments will be blown out of proportion.
“I do not know what the digital camera exhibits, what it would not,” mentioned Smith, who served because the Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2021-23. “I’ve definitely been responsible, regretfully, displaying frustrations at instances … which isn’t what you need. However a few of that stuff, I will be sincere with you, I do not even take note of it.”
Whereas Tomlin lamented his group’s incapacity to create “splash” performs downfield — Pittsburgh’s longest acquire in opposition to the Cowboys was a 21-yard reception by Pickens — Smith would not suppose limiting Pickens’ enjoying time additionally limits the Steelers’ capacity to gobble up yardage in huge chunks.
Pickens, for his half, additionally would not suppose the Steelers want so as to add one other playmaker to the combination, even with the Las Vegas Raiders apparently procuring star wideout Davante Adams.
“I would not say that,” Pickens mentioned. “I really feel like the fellows that is right here, they work onerous daily.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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