PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did not dodge the questions about George Pickens, but he also made it clear whatever Pickens is posting on social media has little impact on him.
“I know it’s a cute story for you guys, but it is a pebble in my shoe to be quite honest with you in terms of things I have to do to get this team ready to play this week,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “Our focus is on the Green Bay Packers and what we are all going to do in this football game. I can’t state it any plainer than that. It’s like reality television the way you guys follow social media and write about it.”
A day after the win over Tennessee, Pickens took down mentions to him being with the Steelers on social media and posted ‘free me’. Seemingly frustrated after a game where he had two catches for minus-one yard, although he could have had a touchdown reception, that would have given the Steelers the lead, but didn’t get a second foot inbounds.
So is Pickens frustrated? Does Mike Tomlin have to deal with the second-year receiver being ticked off? Yes.
“He expresses frustration all the time,” Tomlin said. “He wants to be significant. He wants to be a reason we are successful. You all don’t begrudge that. I want guys that want the football. I want guys that who to be central reasons why we are successful. That’s a non-issue to be honest with you.”
Tomlin credited in part the attention that Pickens received to opening the game up for Diontae Johnson to catch the game-winner, finishing with seven receptions for 90 yards. He said putting two guys on Pickens also opens up the box to get the run game going and the Steelers rushed for a season-high 166 yards.
“We appreciate his talents,” Tomlin said. “We respect what people do to minimize his talents. We function as a collective. There are some benefits for our collective when people make the type of commitment that they made recently to try and minimize his impact on the game.”
He said dealing with the frustrations of a receiver that wants to make an impact is like breathing. It’s easy to focus on other things and says he understands Pickens just wants to be better.
It’s a pebble in his shoe. Think about that, a pebble in your shoe can be really aggravating, for Tomlin right now, it’s not.
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