Daily News & Links: George Pickens Calls Out EA Sports over Madden Rating; Jason Kidd at Steelers practice

Steelers WR George Pickens
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens during practice on July 26, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

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? Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens called out EA Sports for his 83 overall rating in Madden NFL 25. Pickens’ rating has him ranked as the 33rd-best receiver in the game.

“Aye @eamaddennfl. You air producing bad gaming 83 is wild,” Pickens wrote in an Instagram Story post.

? Najee Harris received an 83 overall rating in Madden NFL 25, while Jaylen Warren has an 82 overall rating. Defensive tackle Cam Heyward is 90 overall, tied for fifth-best among DTs.

? Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and general manager Nico Harrison were at Steelers training camp on Tuesday. Tomlin’s close friend, North Carolina Central University head men’s basketball coach LeVelle Moton, was also at the practice.

“Really appreciative to have some special guests/friends at practice today. Thanks to @RealJasonKidd ,@NicoHarrisonGM and @LeVelleMoton for being around the last few days, sharing ideas and just talking ball. I love it,” Tomlin wrote on X.

? Russell Wilson got a priceless reaction when he met some young Steelers fans at training camp on Tuesday.

“Steelers of tomorrow,” Wilson wrote on X.

? Mike Tomlin has been impressed with what he’s seen from Patrick Queen so far.

“You know, we needed to acquire a defensive quarterback, and we did that in Patrick Queen,” Tomlin told Evan Washburn of CBS Sports at Saint Vincent College on Tuesday. “Man, he is a top-notch player. We’re highly familiar with his skill set and capabilities, obviously. He’s an all-situations linebacker. He’s been a really good communicator. He fits in. It’s been a beautiful experience, man. It’s been really enjoyable infusing him into this thing, and that’s what we’re really excited about.”

? Mark Kaboly of The Athletic also raved about Patrick Queen during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.

“He’s got the A+ in trash-talking 101, let me tell you that,” Kaboly said. “He’s definitely going to be an upgrade to this team at inside linebacker. Another star on the defense and they have a ton of stars at every level right now. He’s just a different breed. He’s definitely a three-down linebacker.”

“He definitely likes to chat it up today. “During live drills today, they did one-on-ones and one of the running backs blocked a linebacker and they cheered. He says, ‘Man, that wasn’t a block, that’s a tackle.’ He just started getting in people’s faces like that. He’s not holding back. He’s definitely an A+ player.”

? Damien Woody of ESPN thinks the Steelers should start Justin Fields over Russell Wilson.

“You have the ultimate running quarterback on your roster in Justin Fields. … They could be something like Baltimore,” Woody said on Get Up.

? Vintage NFL on X posted highlights of the Steelers’ 17-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. Mike Tomlin was a 30-year-old defensive backs coach for Tampa Bay at the time.

? Justin Fields knows George Pickens is HIM.

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