PITTSBURGH — Talking for the primary time for the reason that Sunday evening loss to the Cowboys, Steelers large receiver George Pickens dismissed questions concerning the express message on his eye black and the postgame incident with Dallas defensive again Jourdan Lewis.
Pickens wore eye black that learn “Open F—ing At all times” for the sport, and after a game-ending, failed hook-and-lateral try, Pickens yanked Lewis down by the facemask as Lewis ran by him and appeared to say one thing.
“It is simply eye black,” Pickens stated when requested if there was a objective behind the attention black’s message. He stated “No” when requested if he anticipated blowback from it and shook his head to a query about listening to from the NFL a couple of tremendous or inside penalties.
The NFL is predicted to overview Pickens’ eye black for a possible tremendous as a result of it is a violation of the league’s uniform coverage, which prohibits private, unapproved messages displayed by gamers throughout video games, a league supply instructed ESPN.
Pickens stated Thursday he was unaware of the coverage.
“By no means seen it earlier than,” he stated. “Have you ever seen it earlier than?”
When it was identified that teammate Cameron Heyward had been fined in 2015 for writing his late father’s title on his eye black, Pickens was dismissive.
“Years in the past?” he stated. “Once I wasn’t within the league? So, nah.”
And requested what occurred with Lewis after the sport, Pickens stated: “Nothing.”
Pickens was additionally requested concerning the Steelers’ snap-management technique, which coach Mike Tomlin stated was why his prime receiver was restricted to a career-low 34 snaps — simply 59% of offensive performs — in opposition to the Cowboys.
“I believe it was a part of the sport plan,” he stated. “That was just about it.”
Requested what he might do to extend his workload, Pickens deferred to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“It is not on me,” he stated. “It is all as much as Artwork.”
In his Thursday afternoon availability, Smith reiterated that Pickens’ lower in utilization was certainly a part of the sport plan in opposition to the Cowboys and never not like methods he used with different gamers in his teaching profession.
“You are going into any sport plan, sure gamers and the way we package deal stuff you’re making an attempt to maximise snaps,” Smith stated. “Totally different lifetime, however definitely accomplished it with different premium gamers. Completed it with Derrick Henry. He wished to be on the market to play, and he wasn’t on the market in all of the third downs and he acquired loads of touches. Did it with A.J. Brown, early, sure issues and making an attempt to combine and match and maximize issues or set issues up.
“[Pickens] continues to be, I consider, relying on what metric you are utilizing, seventh in targets in passing downs or passing alternatives within the league. So I get it, you lose a sport, and one thing might look off or no matter, however that is not — after which we talk to any participant, whether or not it is Scotty [Miller] or Van [Jefferson] or Connor Heyward, guys know the roles. You bought to know the backups and the way you package deal issues. These are week-to-week issues. That is one of the best ways I can reply it.”
And although Pickens was noticed all through Sunday’s sport displaying indicators of frustration as he slammed his helmet on the sideline and seemed despondent on the bench, Smith stated he did not sense any frustration from the third-year large receiver over his diminished position.
“I did not sense any frustration from the snap depend,” Smith stated. “I believe anytime, so long as I have been within the NFL, all people handles feelings completely different, making an attempt to win video games, however I did not ever get that sense.
“… He is an emotional man. He does that each sport. Perhaps he is simply high-profile. There’s so many cameras on the market, it is such as you’re working in ‘The Truman Present.’ I do not know what the digicam exhibits, what it would not. I’ve definitely been responsible regretfully exhibiting frustrations at instances calling a sport or at an official, which was not what you need. However a few of that stuff, I will be trustworthy, I do not even take note of it. You are simply so hyperfocused on making an attempt to make changes and win the sport.”
Requested if he believed he was dealing with the ebbs and flows of a sport higher this season, together with situations of questionable penalties referred to as in opposition to him or performs that did not come collectively, Pickens put the onus on the officers.
“I would not actually say that,” he stated. “That is all on the refs. So that ought to present you the place the refs are this season.”
