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Steelers WR George Pickens Takes Accountability: ‘You Can’t Hurt The Team’
Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct on Sunday and he knows it can't become a trend.
CINCINNATI — Wide receiver George Pickens was penalized twice in the Pittsburgh Steelers 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13. He was first flagged in the first half when he dropped the ball on linebacker Germaine Pratt after a catch and run and then again in the third quarter after making what he believed was a first-down gesture.
Pickens is no stranger to unsportsmanlike penalties, but he knows he must be better moving forward.
“You can’t hurt the team,” Pickens said. “I never intend to hurt the team.”
In most cases, two unsportsmanlike penalties would result in the player being disqualified. Luckily for Pickens, that wasn’t the case on Sunday.
Referee Shawn Hochuli explained why Pickens wasn’t disqualified following the game.
“The rule of two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls for disqualification really applies to taunting-type acts directed towards an opponent,” Hochuli said. “The first of those fouls was of that nature — his first in the first half was a taunt for throwing the ball at the player. On the second, however, it was not directed at an opponent and so it’t not considered a taunt.”
Pickens’ penalties didn’t help the Steelers chances of winning, but they were still able to squeak out the much-needed AFC North victory on the road.
Tomlin acknowledged he doesn’t want Pickens’ penalties to be a trend that continues with more divisional games ahead.
“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said. “It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He’s 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.”
The target on Pickens back seems to be growing, too. Browns safety Grant Delpit called him out following the Steelers 24-19 defeat to the Cleveland Browns last week.
RELATED: Browns Safety Calls Out Steelers and George Pickens
Pickens, however, hopes the referees are not among those.
“I hope not,” Pickens said. “I’m only out here just playing like every other receiver in the league. Some calls don’t go my way. All you do is keep playing.”
Pickens keeping his head down would be the best case for him and the Steelers with a rematch with the Browns on deck in Week 14.
Quarterback Russell Wilson said he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help Pickens continue being the great player he knows he can be.
“I talked to him throughout the game to make sure he kept his head clear and all of that, but he did a good job of responding. The thing is is that he’s just a competitive player. He’s just a great talent,” Wilson said. “There’s so much that you learn and he’s learning it as we go. He’s got to be smarter, too though, and he’s gonna do that.”
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2 Comments
Good player, massive idiot.
I can tolerate unsportsmanlike penalties when they are ‘awarded’ after the player is responding to an unsportsmanlike act of an opponent who didn’t get caught… I’ll live with that…
BUT…
The second unsportsmanlike penalty called on GP was, first of all, ticky tack… Muth, basically, did the same thing on one of his TDs — he taunted the crowd/fans with his finger without a penalty… The first one was well deserved…
Both penalties, however, are NOT wanted by The Pittsburgh Steelers while on a SuperBowl run…
I would not have used the language that Coach T used to put George on blast, though… George does not need to grow up, he needs to ACT LIKE A CHAMPION… respond like a Champion…
HERE WE GO, STEELERS, HERE WE GO…