Steelers' George Pickens Shares The Truth About His Relationship With Mike Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers' star wide receiver, George Pickens, had a disappointing game on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys. He arrived with eye black boldly declaring that he’s always open, leading many Steelers fans to expect a breakout primetime performance. Unfortunately, that expectation was far from reality.

Pickens recorded the lowest number of routes run in his career and displayed frustration, showing a lack of effort on several plays. After the game, Head Coach Mike Tomlin explained that he was managing Pickens' routes to focus on higher quality opportunities. This approach raises questions; for a young player of Pickens' caliber, managing reps seems counterintuitive. Fans are beginning to speculate that something more significant is happening behind the scenes regarding Pickens.

Many fans were eager to hear from Pickens, but he declined to speak to the media following the loss to the Cowboys. On Monday, he was again unavailable, breaking another NFL media protocol. However, he did sit down for a podcast with Adam Schefter. During their conversation, Pickens expressed high praise for his relationship with Tomlin, indicating that, despite the challenges, he respects and values his head coach's guidance.

"Just everything, he’s probably one of the greatest coaches I have ever been around or in the NFL just in my eyes. Just because his mentality and the way he thinks of things. You guys probably hear all phrases all the time, all the wild phrases, but those are like real true things that uphold to life."

It was refreshing to hear Pickens express his admiration for Tomlin, highlighting him as a great leader. This positive perspective offers an exciting twist to the negative narratives surrounding Pickens following the Cowboys game. 

He elaborated on how Tomlin has supported him not only on the football field, but also in life more generally.

"He’s a life person more than he is a coach… My rookie year, he used to say, 'Cut your eyelids off.' That may sound crazy, you know what I mean? In terms of everything, when you go out to a game, cut your eyelids off, do your detail, and just focus on yourself. Cut the noise off and don’t think about everything else that goes on. That kind of portrays in life also."

After the Cowboys game, many fans were frustrated with Pickens. Reports emerged of him sulking on the sidelines, raising eyebrows among Steeler Nation. It was particularly strange to see the Steelers' best offensive skill player having his reps managed without any injury. 

Tomlin dismissed it as a non-story, insisting nothing deeper was at play. However, speculation ran rampant that Pickens might be in trouble with either Tomlin or the organization.

Steelers' George Pickens Made Fans Very Upset During Sunday Night

His use of the eye black before the game hinted at a me first mentality, something the Steelers organization does not tolerate. Historically, the team has shown a willingness to part ways with star wide receivers who fail to prioritize the team's success. During the Cowboys game, it certainly seemed like Pickens was mentally checked out.

It was one of Pickens' worst performances with the Steelers, and it wasn't just because he managed only three catches for 26 receiving yards. His lack of effort on the field made the game even more disappointing. Now, Pickens must bounce back against the Las Vegas Raiders and demonstrate to Steelers fans that he can be a true team player.

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