George Pickens was late for Christmas Day loss as red flags surround Steelers’ mercurial receiver

George Pickens was late for Christmas Day loss as red flags surround Steelers’ mercurial receiver

There must be something in the Pittsburgh water that wide receivers are drinking.

The Athletic reported Tuesday that George Pickens was late to the Steelers’ Christmas Day game against the Chiefs, not arriving to Acrisure Stadium until after coach Mike Tomlin had submitted his inactive list.

Tomlin reportedly told players to be at the home stadium at least two hours before kickoff and Pickens did not arrive until an hour and 25 minutes prior to game time.

George Pickens was late for the Christmas Day game, according to a report. AP

The Steelers’ coach was asked about this report Tuesday and said he “can’t answer definitively” whether Pickens was indeed late to the game, according to NFL Network.

Pickens received a usual snap count (91 percent) and target share (seven) in the 29-10 loss.

He corralled just three of those balls for 50 yards.

Pickens has had a bumpy at times tenure with the team and things potentially could be reaching a breaking point.

When asked after Saturday’s season-ending loss to the Ravens if he believed in the team’s offensive progress, the star receiver simply said “nah.”

Mike Tomlin can’t put his finger on whether George Pickens was late for Christmas Day versus the Chiefs. AP

On Dec. 2, Tomlin criticized Pickens’ maturity, saying that he needed to “grow up” after a 44-38 win over the Bengals.

“He’s just gotta grow up, man,” Tomlin said in his postgame press conference. “It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that. But he’s gotta grow up, and he’s gotta grow up in a hurry.”

Pickens was also fined $10,231 in October for writing profanity on his eye black prior to getting into a shoving match with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II.

George Pickens had big hugs for the Chiefs after the loss. Getty Images

He’s just one of many receivers in Steeler lore under Tomlin who have dealt with personality issues that have hindered their career.

Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers after five season in Pittsburgh marred by complaints about his quarterbacks and a famous 2023 fumble in which he stood by as the Bengals recovered it, unhindered.

Johnson was since traded from Carolina to the Ravens, who released him, only for him to be picked up and again waived by the Texans.

Pickens is on the final year of his rookie contract. AP

Antonio Brown’s well-documented exit from Pittsburgh involved an argument with QB Ben Roethlisberger and skipped practices before being traded to the Raiders — beginning a troublesome stint with the then Oakland-based franchise — who released him before he ever played a game.

He went on to play with New England and Tampa Bay, though his career came to a halt when he took off his jersey and jogged off the field mid-game while playing the Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Other past Steelers receivers such as Chase Claypool, Martavis Bryant and Cam Sutton were either outright suspended at some point in their career or told to stay away from the team.

Pickens is going into the final year of his rookie contract and the Steelers could opt to mull their options with the 2022 second-round draft pick.

Related Posts

Devastated Shedeur Sanders breaks silence on historic NFL Draft mortification after outrageous slide

Devastated Shedeur Sanders breaks silence on historic NFL Draft mortification after outrageous slide

On a night he may have wanted to forget more than most, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders broke his silence on his monumental NFL Draft slide. Sanders, who…

Will Levis’s ex-girlfriend Gia Duddy shares key thing NFL Draft WAGs must avoid two years on from her viral fame 

Will Levis’s ex-girlfriend Gia Duddy shares key thing NFL Draft WAGs must avoid two years on from her viral fame 

Influencer Gia Duddy rocketed to fame two years ago when cameras caught her sat alongside former boyfriend Will Levis during his NFL Draft nightmare.  Duddy went viral…

Eddie Mcguire’s son has a CHEEKY message for his Ohio State teammates ahead of meeting with POTUS Trump

Eddie Mcguire’s son has a CHEEKY message for his Ohio State teammates ahead of meeting with POTUS Trump

Joe McGuire couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at his Ohio State teammates ahead of meeting US President Donald Trump. ‘It was a tremendous honour, most of…

Humiliating NFL Draft moment as Shedeur Sanders’ dreams are crushed by brutal prank call

Humiliating NFL Draft moment as Shedeur Sanders’ dreams are crushed by brutal prank call

Shedeur Sanders’ NFL Draft nightmare took a cruel twist Friday when his hopes were momentarily lifted only to be immediately crushed.  Sanders had been tipped by some…

Emotional scenes at NFL Draft as Jack Bech is picked three months after brother Tiger’s death in New Orleans terror attack

Emotional scenes at NFL Draft as Jack Bech is picked three months after brother Tiger’s death in New Orleans terror attack

Over three months after he lost his brother in the ᴅᴇᴀᴅly terrorist attack in New Orleans, the family of Jack Bech is celebrating their son accomplishing his…

Exclusive | Abdul Carter’s Giants greatness will have to be his own — Lawrence Taylor isn’t sharing his

Exclusive | Abdul Carter’s Giants greatness will have to be his own — Lawrence Taylor isn’t sharing his

There may have been a few dry eyes in the house as the late Hall of Fame owner of the New York Football Giants, Wellington Mara, presented…