Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called out wide receiver George Pickens for his unsportsmanlike conduct on the field, following the team’s 44-38 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Pickens led the team with three catches for 75 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, but he was accused of committing two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the game. Tomlin was unhappy with Pickens’ behavior, saying, “He’s just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that. But he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”
Pickens has been under scrutiny this season, having gotten into a fight with Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II last month, and being accused of taking plays off earlier in the season. On Sunday, he was penalized for a “violent gesture” after a first down, as well as for throwing a ball at a group of Bengals players in the first quarter.
Pickens himself claimed he did not do anything wrong, saying, “No, honestly, like I said, I can just keep running my routes, keep playing,” and “I don’t need to do anything differently.” Despite the criticism, the Steelers remain on top of the AFC North with a 9-3 record, and Pickens has been the bright spot of the team’s receiving corps, with 55 catches for 850 yards and three touchdowns this season.
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