The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to get revenge on the Cleveland Browns in Week 14. They got punched in the mouth when they met on Thursday Night Football two weeks prior to this matchup, and the Browns will want to do it again. Even for Jameis Winston's erratic play, his big-play ability will make it so that the Steelers will have to be ready for anything he does. Offensively, Pittsburgh has proven that they can get into a shootout, and depending on which version of Winston they get, they may have to win another game like that.
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Steelers attempt to stop Jameis Winston in Cleveland in Week 12, 2024.
If the Steelers and Browns get into that kind of game again, they will need everyone to step up. That includes George Pickens. They need him to play like himself, but avoid the flags at all costs. During a locker room interview, he was asked about how to limit those penalties, and he could not come up with much of an answer.
"I'm out here making plays, doing the same celebrations that every other receiver is doing," Pickens said. "So, I'm not sure."
Pickens continued on with that train of thought eventually, claiming that the NFL has a target on him. He says that is just like any other receiver and not doing anything wrong.
"When you are playing hard & the league has a target on your back. I'm not saying 100%, but you possibly could get flags. I'm just out playing like every other receiver."#Steelers George Pickens
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) December 6, 2024
This all stems from the team's Week 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct twice. The first infraction was because he taunted an opponent, and the other one was for using the "finger gun" first down celebration that has recently become a point of emphasis for the league.
steelers.com
Steelers' George Pickens celebrates 71-yard touchdown against division rival Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of 2023.
Whether Pickens is right or not, those kinds of comments are not a good look, especially with the history of trouble and antics that he has. To top it all off, he is going against a player that he tried to fight just two weeks ago in Greg Newsome II, which means the NFL and the officials will keep a close eye on him for this game. There is a target on Pickens' back, but he may have placed it there himself.
At the end of the Steelers' loss to Cleveland, they attempted a Hail Mary pass, but Pickens took himself out of the play. He was seen behind the end zone with Newsome in a scuffle, and the two looked like they were ready to start swinging. Neither player was fined for the incident, but it's still a matchup to monitor for the rematch in Pittsburgh.
Steelers Now Have A Close Eye On Pickens
During their loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Pickens was seen with a message on his eye black that read "Open F***ing Always." This caused the NFL to launch their first investigation on the emotional receiver in 2024. Nothing much came out of it, but it put them on high alert.
In his rookie season, he got ejected at the very end of a loss to the Bengals. After the Steelers failed to recover an onside kick, he took a cheap shot at the Cincinnati player that recovered it. Again, nothing really happened after that, but it still sent a message to the league that they need to make sure he doesn't do anything dirty and stupid like that.
USA Today
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, George Pickens (14) confused during the Bengals game in Week 13 after being called for a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Pickens needs to keep his emotions in check, or at least learn how and when to take his aggression out. Another costly penalty could cost Pittsburgh a game, or even worse, a game in the playoffs.
What do you think about Pickens not knowing how to stop the flags from flying for him? Let us know in the comments.
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