The Pittsburgh Steelers have a historical past of conquering Super Bowls.
It’s changing into tinier and tinier within the rearview mirror.
They even have a practice of eccentric vast receivers.
That apply is prospering.
George Pickens is main the pack. The Steelers don't have any legitimate criticism. They understood exactly what he was once they chosen Pickens from Georgia in 2022. Warning indicators have been considerable.
But now the state of affairs seems poised to escalate, and the Steelers are accountable for offering Pickens with leverage whereas weakening their squad.
Pickens noticed a career-low 34 out of 58 snaps within the current loss to Dallas. That equates to 59%. That's decrease than Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III, also referred to as Van Halen and Kenny the Kangaroo.
So Pickens was sidelined. Sort of. But not precisely.
Coach Mike Tomlin termed it as “snap management.” But Pickens is 23. He's not previous like Cameron Heyward, who's 35. Pickens requires targets, not relaxation. The high receivers within the NFL sometimes play 90% of their group's offensive snaps.
Some type of lukewarm disciplinary motion appears extra possible.
Reportedly, Pickens has been late for work on a number of events. He typically adopts a adverse perspective. His “open (bleeping) always” eye-black tape confirms. (Although he obtained the phrases fallacious. Which signifies one thing about his literacy. Or he speaks like Yoda.)
But decreasing his enjoying time does not talk a message. Removing Pickens' helmet would ship a message. (Whether he would comprehend that message is one other query.)
But the Steelers possess the poorest group of vast receivers within the NFL. Declaring Pickens inactive would remove their sole credible possibility.
It all started when the Steelers traded vast receiver Diontae Johnson to Carolina with no clear technique to change him. They experimented with Brandon Aiyuk, however Aiyuk remained in San Francisco.
Johnson was traded impulsively as a result of he exhibited a adverse perspective. (Though not as extreme as Pickens'.)
Johnson has 23 receptions, the identical as Pickens. He has scored two touchdowns in contrast to Pickens' zero.
With Johnson's departure, the Steelers' offense has considerably deteriorated. Pickens now holds extra affect. He cannot be benched fully. Pickens isn't just the first particular person. He's the only real particular person. Trading Johnson with out adequately substituting him is unforgivable.
This brings us to the predicament the Steelers at the moment face with Pickens. (Which may need arisen regardless.)
It's inept roster administration by GM Omar Khan. It's poor teaching by Tomlin.
Pickens will most likely obtain a full set of snaps in Las Vegas on Sunday. If offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is smart, Pickens shall be focused early and incessantly, serving to him focus. (Ben Roethlisberger proposed this on his podcast. It's easy logic, however which may be scarce with the Steelers. Roethlisberger may very well be the offensive coordinator, however I would not want that on somebody I like.)
But that solely masks the problems. Pickens will seemingly act out much more. It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when.
Then the Steelers will sincerely remorse having traded Johnson.
Pickens has appreciable leeway. The Steelers have solely themselves to fault. Pickens might even insult Tomlin personally on his eye-black tape. Tomlin would merely faux not to discover that both.
