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Drama Brewing Between Pittsburgh Steelers, George Pickens?

Published

2 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Drama Brewing Between Pittsburgh Steelers, George Pickens?

PITTSBURGH — Is there trouble brewing in paradise? The Pittsburgh Steelers started the season with a new outlook on offense, and a new WR1 leading the way in George Pickens. But just give games in, things might be starting to boil over between the team and their star wideout.

In what is becoming a trend, Pickens was out-snapped by Van Jefferson, and against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, he was out-snapped by both Jefferson and Calvin Austin.

Even during crucial parts of the game, the Steelers don’t seem to have Pickens in the game plan. The star wide receiver was on the sideline for most of the team’s final touchdown drive, which included a critical second down catch by Brandon Johnson, who was called up from the practice squad for the game. Pickens was on the sideline during the play.

According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Pickens is on a management situation, with the team looking to keep his snap count lower to protect him deeper into the season. In just his third NFL season, the team is trying to say they’re keeping a 23-year-old from getting too beat up during the course of a season.

“No underlying story,” Tomlin said. Take that to heart if you will.

Then, there’s Pickens’s side of things. The wideout spent a large chunk of the second half sitting by himself on the sideline. For one drive, he sat alone, with no one coming over to him, for an entire eight-minute and 32-second drive.

And the on field antics have started.

George Pickens should be suspended a game for this.
It’s absolutely unnecessary. pic.twitter.com/eog1VTqGaP
— Ben Slotnick🎗️ (@SlotnickBen) October 7, 2024
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Who knows if the losing is just building up and Pickens is having a tough time with it. But this seems to be a trend that continues year after year. At some point during the season, the wideout doesn’t like how the offense is flowing, and he lashes out. Last year, it happened multiple times, including sideline altercations and social media interactions.

This year, maybe it’s starting early. Why? Who knows. Pickens is coming off a 100-yard game in Indianapolis, that would’ve included a touchdown and more if he didn’t drop an easy catch and fumble the ball. This week, he yet again let an easy pass slip through his hands.

It’s a mystery what’s going on where we sit currently. The Steelers are 3-2 and looking at the wrong end of a losing streak. In the midst of it, there are worries growing about their wide receiver.

Those worries can go away with a solid performance in Week 6 and no distractions from Pickens. But history tells us this could turn into something bigger. Tensions may be boiling over between the Steelers and their new WR1.

Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

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'Sunday Night Football' live updates: Cowboys take on Steelers in Pittsburgh

Published

10 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

'Sunday Night Football' live updates: Cowboys take on Steelers in Pittsburgh

Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys facing pressure to get over the hump

At 2-2, the Cowboys are off to their worst start since 2020, coach Mike McCarthy’s first season in charge and the only year in his tenure in which Dallas missed the playoffs (finished 6-10 in 2020).

After Dallas’ Week 2 loss vs. the Saints, owner Jerry Jones said McCarthy — who is in the final year of his contract — would be judged on postseason success.

“ I don’t think where (McCarthy ) is with his contract has anything to do with [the Week 1 win at] Cleveland … or how we played (in Week 2 loss vs NO ). We’re trying to get this team ready and in place to really make a run at the playoffs . … If we’ve got any albatross around our neck, it’s that we’ve been a good-to-very- good team during the season over the last four to five years with Mike, and we haven’t done well in the playoffs. So let’s trade some challenges during the season for doing well in the playoffs, if you want to look at it that way.”

Matchup of historic NFL teams

The Cowboys and Steelers are two of the NFL’s most storied teams, and this week, they’ll meet on SNF for the first time.

• Dallas and Pittsburgh have combined to win 11 Super Bowl titles (six for Pittsburgh, five for Dallas) and made 16 Super Bowl appearances (eight for both teams).

• The two teams have met in three Super Bowls, making Cowboys-Steelers the most common Super Bowl matchup in NFL history. They played each other in Super Bowl X in the 1975 season, XIII in the 1978 season and XXX in the 1995 season. Pittsburgh won the two Super Bowls in the 1970s, while Dallas took the 1990s matchup.

• The Cowboys and Steelers are the top two teams in wins in the Super Bowl era. The two teams are also first and second in regular season win percentage in the Super Bowl era (Dallas leads with .598, while Pittsburgh is 2nd at .590).

Since the Super Bowl XXX meeting nearly 29 years ago, DAL and PIT have met just six times, with each team winning three.

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Steelers, Davante Adams Trade Could Be Coming Soon

Published

17 hours ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

Steelers, Davante Adams Trade Could Be Coming Soon

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a new superstar wide receiver on their roster before they take off for Las Vegas next week. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the timeline for the Davante Adams trade is heating up, as there’s an expectation he gets dealt as early as Tuesday.

“With Adams’ hamstring close to being healthy, trade talks are expected to accelerate Monday and Tuesday. If a trade is going to get done this week, which is possible, Tuesday would be the deadline,” Rapoport writes.

While the Steelers are only in the mix right now, competing with teams like the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, they’re reportedly making a strong push. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Pittsburgh has made an “aggressive offer” for Adams, in hopes of landing him before Week 6.

It’s unknown what the offer would be, but sources have told Steelers On SI that the Raiders are looking for a minimum of a second-round NFL Draft pick and a “significant player” in exchange for the All-Pro receiver.

The Steelers were on the cusp of landing Brandon Aiyuk this summer, so it comes as no surprise that they are looking to land Adams now that he’s available. While what they are willing to offer remains a mystery, their level of interest is easy to predict.

Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!

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Pittsburgh continues to choose loyalty over their Wilsons

Published

1 day ago

October 6, 2024

Press Room

On Thursday, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo appeared on 93.7 The Fan, addressing several key Steelers topics, including the ongoing situations with Russell Wilson and Roman Wilson. Fittipaldo believes that given Justin Fields’ current performance, it would take “a bad game” to warrant a switch a switch at quarterback.

Additionally, with Arthur Smith’s scheme requiring four tight ends and four wide receivers on game day, Roman Wilson seems to be the odd man out of a WR group that contains George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Van Jefferson, and Scotty Miller. This leads many, including Fittipaldo, to conclude that Roman Wilson’s status as a healthy scratch is more a matter of preference than necessity for Pittsburgh.

Loyalty plays a significant role in both Russell and Roman Wilson’s availability issues. Mike Tomlin acknowledged the challenge by stating, “It’s very difficult to get on a moving train.” However, Smith’s loyalty to Jefferson and Fields seems to be preventing the Wilsons from hopping on the proverbial locomotive, which could then provoke Pittsburgh to exaggerate the severity of the injuries to save face.