Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin raised some eyebrows when he said that vast receiver George Pickens has “simply gotta develop up” after Pickens was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct within the membership’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals this previous Sunday.
On Thursday, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith used his media availability to ship considerably of a message to Pickens.
“Finally anyone that is on the market, you possibly can’t do issues that damage the workforce,” Smith stated, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. “That is actually what it comes right down to. Totally different guys play with totally different ardour. Clearly when any participant we have had, while you’re doing issues that damage the workforce, these are totally different tales. So, you handle it case by case. Each participant I’ve had has been totally different.”
Maturity concerns have hovered over Pickens all through his NFL profession that started when the Steelers made him a second-round draft choose within the spring of 2022. Simply this 12 months, he acquired into “a heated exchange” with a coach throughout coaching camp, wrote a profane message on his eye black for a sport and later grappled with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II throughout Pittsburgh’s last-second Hail Mary throw that was knocked down within the workforce’s Week 12 loss on Nov. 21.
Based on ESPN stats, Pickens leads the Steelers with 55 receptions, 90 targets and 850 receiving yards. He is tallied three landing grabs throughout Pittsburgh’s first 12 video games.
“…The factor I’ve at all times stated is when you could have a man that likes to work and loves soccer,” Smith continued, “these are totally different points. Greatest downside I’ve had with guys are guys which are perhaps cursed with loads of potential and so they play as a result of they’re good at it, and so they haven’t got the identical ardour. …Fortunately we acquired guys on the market that like to play and so they work, and these practices the final couple weeks have been pretty much as good as any practices I have been round.”
That is all properly and good, however The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo famous earlier on Thursday that the Steelers are quickly going to should resolve in the event that they need to commit actual cash to Pickens or discard one more talented but problematic playmaker. For now, Smith and Tomlin will merely hope Pickens retains his cool when 9-3 Pittsburgh hosts 3-9 Cleveland this Sunday.
As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers as 6.5-point favorites for that contest.