PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s something he said he been doing for a while, even when he lived and played in a modest climate in Georgia. Soon you can buy your own George Pickens ski mask.
The second-year receiver said he will partner with a clothing brand to soon sell them. He wasn’t doing it to set a trend he said the untold truth about it, he likes them because he likes being comfortable.
Pickens said during OTAs this week that he was shocked that it’s caught on and that pictures of him wearing ski-masks or head sleeves or whatever you might call it, had gone viral.
Moore reaction
When you trade up and draft a left tackle with the 14th overall selection, you aren’t doing it so he can sit behind and learn. Two-year starter Dan Moore asked to react to the team drafting Broderick Jones.
“What is done is done,” Moore said. “All I can do is focus on me and control what I can control and that’s getting better each and every day.”
Moore said it’s early in the process to know what the coaches are thinking about this year. He said he’s learned there are things he can’t control and tries to approach every day trying to get better. He said it’s a professional business and they expect him to act as a professional.
At this point he hasn’t been told if he will move to the right side and compete with incumbent Chukwuma Okorafor or try and battle Jones to start. Moore said he’s taken the initiative since the draft to do some work at right tackle on his own.
Contract veteran
He went through it until just before the season started back in 2020, signing a four-year, $65.6 million contract extension. Cam Heyward knows the emotions of going back-and-forth about a new deal. It’s linebacker Alex Highsmith in the middle of it this year going into the final season of his rookie contract.
“You have to be a professional about it,” Heyward said. “Alex is doing that. He’s not letting it affect his craft. You can be as straightforward as you want. Alex is handled it the right way. I would suggest keep doing what you are doing. Everyone knows what you are capable of, keep taking care of your body. It’s going to happen.”
“Everyone wants him here. I think you are looking for things to align. It takes two to tango. It’s hard to keep things to just business as possible. Sure, you may have hard feelings, but it’s just what comes with it.”
Heyward said he would advise Highsmith to be open and honest and let his agent take care of him. He also hopes his deal is different from he and TJ Watt being signed in September. He hopes it’s more like Minkah Fitzpatrick and he gets a new contract in June.
Diontae confident
Expectations were high for wide receiver Diontae Johnson in 2022 coming off his first Pro Bowl and thousand-yard season. It led to a two-year contract extension for the 2019, third-round pick. Johnson though had his worst catch percentage in his career (58.5%) and lowest receptions (86) and yards (882) in the last three years.
He still has lofty goals for 2023.
“Definitely All-Pro, Pro Bowl, over 1,000 yards, over 100 catches, Top 10, Top 5,” Johnson said during OTAs this week. “Saying that in the most humble way. I pray on my goals, If I achieve them, I achieve them. If I don’t, I keep working.”
Johnson said he’s better conditioned than he’s been in the past.
“I run a little more,” Johnson said. “Focused on being on top of the routes, catching the ball, little stuff I could be better at. (It’s) preparation and how I am feeling. Being comfortable out there, knowing what I am doing. Everything comes after that. Every aspect of the game really. Everything is going in the right direction, I feel good.”