George Pickens Rips NFL, Claims Vendetta against Him

Chris Ward |

Updated: Nov 1, 2024

On Thursday night, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson had an insane one-handed grab in the end zone, but he only got his left foot and shin down in bounds. It was ruled a touchdown, however.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had a similar play in Monday night’s win over the New York Giants, but it was ruled an incomplete pass. The difference was that Pickens got his right foot down twice, but his left foot never touched the ground.

To say the least, Pickens wasn’t pleased after seeing Wilson’s catch stand as a touchdown. He feels like he got robbed by the NFL.

“But that’s a catch. Lmfaooo NFL Be HAVING VENDETTAS TOWARD CERTAIN PLAYERS. (Never forget I said this) p.s.,” Pickens wrote in an Instagram Story post following Wilson’s touchdown.

George Pickens on IG after that Wilson TD pic.twitter.com/YsoBCAucDp

— morgan 🐉 (@tokyoXmo) November 1, 2024

The NFL rulebook says both feet need to touch the ground on a catch, so the officials got the call right on the Pickens play. The officials also made the right call with Wilson, as the rulebook states that a shin counts as two feet.

Nevertheless, this could be something the competition committee looks into during the offseason. Many believe the rule is illogical. How does a shin count as two feet, but the same foot touching the ground twice doesn’t equal a catch?

“The Garrett Wilson touchdown is unbelievable. The George Pickens catch from Monday night not being a touchdown now makes no sense to me. Wilson had his foot and shin down, so it counts as a touchdown. However, George Pickens got his foot down twice, but it doesn’t count,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz said.

Steelers nose tackle Breiden Fehoko was also baffled that Pickens’ catch wasn’t a touchdown but Garrett’s was.

“Taking nothing from G5 but letting that be a touchdown and not counting GP double tapping twice with the same foot is crazy to me,” Fehoko wrote on X.

It’s very rare that a situation like the Pickens and Wilson plays come up. J.J. Watt wrote on X, “Never seen the “one foot twice” situation in my entire career. Now seen it twice in one week. Crazy!”

Warren Sharp of Sharp Football said it best, Pickens had the “most complete looking incomplete pass ever.”