Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin raised some eyebrows when he said that vast receiver George Pickens has “simply gotta develop up” after Pickens was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct within the membership’s 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals this previous Sunday.
On Thursday, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith used his media availability to ship considerably of a message to Pickens.
“In the end anyone that is on the market, you possibly can’t do issues that harm the staff,” Smith stated, as shared by Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. “That is actually what it comes all the way down to. Totally different guys play with totally different ardour. Clearly when any participant we have had, whenever you’re doing issues that harm the staff, these are totally different tales. So, you handle it case by case. Each participant I’ve had has been totally different.”
Maturity concerns have hovered over Pickens all through his NFL profession that started when the Steelers made him a second-round draft decide within the spring of 2022. Simply this 12 months, he acquired into “a heated exchange” with a coach throughout coaching camp, wrote a profane message on his eye black for a recreation and later grappled with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II throughout Pittsburgh’s last-second Hail Mary throw that was knocked down within the staff’s Week 12 loss on Nov. 21.
In line with ESPN stats, Pickens leads the Steelers with 55 receptions, 90 targets and 850 receiving yards. He is tallied three landing grabs throughout Pittsburgh’s first 12 video games.
“…The factor I’ve all the time stated is when you have got a man that likes to work and loves soccer,” Smith continued, “these are totally different points. Largest downside I’ve had with guys are guys which are possibly cursed with lots of skill they usually play as a result of they’re good at it, they usually haven’t got the identical ardour. …Fortunately we acquired guys on the market that like to play they usually work, and these practices the final couple weeks have been nearly as good as any practices I have been round.”
That is all properly and good, however The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo famous earlier on Thursday that the Steelers are quickly going to should determine in the event that they need to commit actual cash to Pickens or discard yet one more talented but problematic playmaker. For now, Smith and Tomlin will merely hope Pickens retains his cool when 9-3 Pittsburgh hosts 3-9 Cleveland this Sunday.
As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers as 6.5-point favorites for that contest.
