Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he congratulated Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs after a 29-10 loss. Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while Kelce had eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, including his 1,000th career reception. Pickens, who had three catches for 50 yards in the game, interrupted the interview to give his respect to the star players.
The move sparked a debate among fans, with some praising Pickens for good sportsmanship and others suggesting he was trying to influence a future trade. This season, Pickens has been a source of consternation, getting into a fight with a Cleveland Browns player and being flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about Pickens’ antics earlier this month, but declined to comment, saying he wouldn’t “feed the beast” by providing details about the wide receiver’s growth and development. Wednesday’s game was Pickens’ first after missing three with injuries.
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