Steelers’ Tomlin calls on George Pickens to ‘develop up’ after flags

CINCINNATI — Third-year Pittsburgh Steelers vast receiver George Pickens drew the ire of his head coach for drawing two expensive unsportsmanlike conduct penalty flags in Sunday’s 44-38 win towards the Cincinnati Bengals.

“He is simply bought to develop up, man,” coach Mike Tomlin mentioned. “That is an emotional recreation, man. These divisional video games are large. He bought a goal on his again as a result of he is George, he understands that. However he is bought to develop up. He is bought 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 mentioned there wasn’t something he wanted to do otherwise in these conditions.

“No, actually, like I mentioned, I can simply preserve operating my routes, preserve enjoying,” he mentioned. “We bought 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 achieve.

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 achieve 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 group introduced out Chris Boswell to attempt a area aim. Boswell’s kick was blocked — his first ever unsuccessful area aim try at Paul Brown Stadium — and the Steelers turned the ball again over to the Bengals with only a six-point lead.

Afterward, Pickens mentioned the official misinterpreted his hand sign.

“They mentioned they bought the gesture mistaken,” Pickens mentioned. “You recognize what I imply? Thought it was one thing else. You possibly can’t harm the group. I by no means meant to harm the group, however he simply thought the gesture was completely different. … I used to be doing the primary down; he said he thought [it was] one thing else.”

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 mentioned 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 mentioned. “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, nevertheless, it was not directed at an opponent and so it is not 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 towards 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 be no stranger to altercations in video games towards 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 bought tousled 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 mentioned 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 mentioned. “If there was a possible seize or maintain, that was at an angle that we would not have seen.” Consequently, Taylor-Britt picked off Wilson’s move meant for Pickens and returned it for a landing whereas Pickens sat on the sector gesturing to the official over the dearth of a penalty.

“Performs occur,” Pickens mentioned. “Guys maintain me. I’ll get held. I am one of many prime receivers, so I’ll get held. You simply bought to make performs when it occurs.”

Requested if he thought officers had a goal on his again, Pickens mentioned he hoped not.

“I am solely out right here simply enjoying like each different receiver within the league,” Pickens mentioned. “Sure calls do not go my method. All you are able to do is simply preserve enjoying.”

“He is simply bought to develop up, man. That is an emotional recreation, man. These divisional video games are large. He bought a goal on his again as a result of he is George, he understands that. However he is bought to develop up. He is bought 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 sector after the penalties.

“I do not attempt to give him an entire speech or whatnot, only a couple phrases of encouragement or simply, ‘Be good,'” Jones mentioned. “‘Everyone is aware of you are a playmaker, we simply bought to cease the silly issues.’ That is with me, too, as effectively. He talks to me as effectively, so I attempt to do the identical factor for him.

“We simply attempt to preserve one another in line and simply ensuring now we have one another’s backs.”

Wilson mentioned he additionally talked to Pickens throughout the recreation about conserving his feelings in examine, reminding him on the sideline that he does not should do something “further” after large performs as a result of he is anticipated to make them.

“It is ardour, and so generally that takes over and I feel that simply with the ability to steadiness it, I believed he did an excellent job responding,” Wilson mentioned. “And I simply assume that you just simply bought to grasp that if you’re at among the finest receivers on this planet, 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 carry pleasure. Do not change that however simply perceive that.

“I used to be telling him on the sideline if you’re among the finest on this planet, you anticipate to make these performs, and also you needn’t do something further essentially. … He is studying it as we go. He is bought to be smarter, too, although, and he is going to try this.”