George Pickens Receives Fine for Profane Eye Black Message

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was fined $10,231 by the NFL for an explicit eye black message in Sunday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Pickens wrote “Open F***ing Always” in white letters across the strip of eye black tape that adorned his face. He said he was unaware that the eye black message was against league rules.

“Never seen it before,” he said. “Have you seen it before?”

A reporter followed by referencing that teammate Cameron Heyward had been fined in 2015 for writing his late father’s name on his eye black.

“Years ago?” Pickens said. “When I wasn’t in the league? So, nah.”

Pickens said there was no meaning behind the eye black message.

“It’s just eye black. Yeah,” Pickens said.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 6, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

In total, Pickens was fined $20,463 from the Cowboys game. He was also docked $10,230 for throwing Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis down by his facemask at the conclusion of Sunday night’s loss.

During his weekly Tuesday press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about Pickens pulling Lewis down by his facemask at the end of the game, but declined to address it publicly.

Tomlin said he doesn’t detail those conversations in press conferences, but said he believes Pickens has “certainly gotten better” about handling his emotions since joining the Steelers.

Pickens was held to just three receptions on seven targets for 26 yards in the game. He also dogged it on several routes in the game and played a career-low 34 snaps.

Pickens made a eye-opening statement in regards to his playing time, as he doesn’t feel that it’s on him to earn back any of the reps he lost last Sunday. He placed the blame on Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

“It was just part of the game plan,” Pickens said.

Asked if he feels he can earn those reps back: “No. It’s not on me. It’s all up to Art. If Art wants to do a certain type of play or certain types of game plans, it’s going to be different.”

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Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.