Too irresponsible? George Pickens reportedly showed up late to Steelers’ game against Chiefs
George Pickens reportdely arrived quite late on the Christmas Day game against Chiefs, that ended in a humiliating loss of 29-10.
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George Pickens (Via Athlon Sports)
Whoever said that talent alone cannot bring success was spot on, as the Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens exemplifies this truth. The Steelers’ young receiver’s lack of dedication and indiscipline is becoming a concerning factor for the team.
Although head coach Mike Tomlin is trying his best to be patient with Pickens, the front office could be growing irritated by his antics that have cost the team many times this season. Pickens’ antics have been recognized as a sign that the team has gone out of the hands of head coach Tomlin.
A new report by The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo alleged that the 23-year-old was quite late on the Christmas Day game, that anyway ended in a humiliating loss of 29-10 against the Kansas City Chiefs and stretched the Steelers’ losing streak to three games.
[Mike] 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 reported
Tomlin "can't answer definitively" if George Pickens was late for Christmas game, saying it was a long time ago
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) January 14, 2025
There have also been speculations that the receiver is interested in getting traded from the Steelers to the Chiefs after he went to congratulate star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce for earning the tag of Players of the Game by Netflix broadcast.
George Pickens’ performance and attitude under scrutiny
Despite the Steelers’ struggle in the quarterback room including a fraction of the 2024 season, Pickens’ production has been good. In his three seasons, he recorded 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, yet there has been discussion about whether he is capable of reaching his full potential.
Even his head coach was compelled to say that Pickens “just got to grow up, man,” after he was penalized for two unsportsmanlike conducts in the regular season win over the Cincinnati Bengals. If that was enough, he has been critical of his own team’s offense, stating his lack of confidence in them to improve.
While it’s undeniable that the young wideout possesses immense talents and is regarded as one of the most electrifying players in the league, his punctuality has become a significant concern for the team, especially when it’s backed by presumably no apparent reason. As he moves to the final year of his rookie contract, these issues could heavily influence the front office’s decision regarding a potential extension.
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Pratyusha Srivastava
(2078 Articles Published)