Is George Pickens Costing Himself a Contract? | Steelers Morning Rush

Welcome to Steelers Morning Rush, our new daily short-form podcast with Alan Saunders, giving a longer perspective on a single news topic surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers or the National Football League. Today, it's George Pickens' continued negative behavior outside the whistles.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Pickens was flagged for two personal fouls, one for taunting and one for making a finger-gun gesture toward the crowd, which is a point of emphasis in the NFL this season.
That came on the heels of Pickens' actions last week, when he starting fighting with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II before the end of the final play, continued well after the whistle and nearly into the stands, and then said that the Browns aren't a good team and that the Steelers lost because of the officials and the weather.
The Steelers have to make a decision about whether or not to give Pickens a contract extension after this season, and it's not necessarily looking good despite him being in the top 10 of NFL receivers.
Is Pickens playing his way out of Pittsburgh with his antics?
Alan breaks it down. #steelers #herewego #nfl
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[@TheTrainMan570]

No. If we don’t pay him. Someone else will.

[@danielecorwin]

On another pod, it was suggested that Mr. Rooney needs to call him into the office to discuss the gravity of the situation.

[@christophersexton5778]

We get nothing for johnson?... Jackson's leading nfl 5 INTs would argue thats something....plus he's a hard hitting perfect culture fit looks like he's made to be a steeler and not a poison like Johnson was but idk maybe that's nothing hahaha

[@DJQuoteChrist]

Yeah this is the comment I came for

[@PghSteelersNow]

Jackson has been great. But they could have signed Jackson to that contract for nothing in two days, because Carolina was going to cut him. -- AS

[@davepheilshifter2418]

@@PghSteelersNow Pure supposition and even if you're right he could've landed with another team. Tomlin wanted his guy after missing out on him before.

[@PghSteelersNow]

@@davepheilshifter2418 Not supposition at all. The Steelers wanted rid of Johnson and were willing to take anything they could get. -- AS

[@christophersexton5778]

True we could of signed him that's true but we did get a pick swap to and with Mr Kahnartist I believe we can make that 6th rd pick better than 7th but we all kno 6th 7th rd all same basically but we was gonna release johnson as well at least this way we ensure 100% we get Jackson no fighting with other teams and we get a better pick so y not win win I guess either way Jackson seems solid and Johnson can suck a egg haha his prissy attitude made me sick if GP don't get right I say trade him to hahaha we pick good WR we be alright don't need poison regardless who it is

[@vdegregory4845]

Thank you, Alan

[@jsmitt3700]

Alan, why do you keep saying the Steelers got nothing in return for Diontae?? They received Dontae Jackson, who has outplayed Johnson. Do better that qualifier that Carolina was gonna cut him is bs

[@PghSteelersNow]

It's not BS at all. They were going to cut him. They could have signed him to the contract he's playing under on their own two days after they traded for him. -- AS

[@davepheilshifter2418]

Each day I'm happier for that trade and thought it was fair at the time. Jackson fits right in with our team

[@jsmitt3700]

@PghSteelersNow but that doesn't guarantee the Steelers would land him as an FA. So they got the value they deemed necessary and equivalent. They were correct as well.

[@randyftobias]

Alan, while not specifically a Steelers question, could you explain the media surrounding the team? Specifically, I'm asking about rival media vs cooperation. Nick Farabaugh was recently on Locked On, as I've seen you guest star on as well. I've seen articles that will mention questions Brooke Pryor asked at press conferences. Is any outlet able to report on any questions asked or any interviews performed?

[@christophersexton5778]

Another solid episode.

[@infinity2z3r07]

sadly they don't make many hines wards and larry fitzgeralds these days

[@03Man11]

I was always under the impression that DJ was disgruntled due to the bad QB play. You’d think he would be happy catching balls from Russ. As far as Pickens, we are 3 years in and the dude hasn’t shown even a little bit of improved maturity. I wouldn’t pay him.

[@Victor-j1u3e]

Pickens is Good with the Steelers, stop starting s**t!

[@blitzburgh9066]

We would be dumb to not pay Pickens

[@davepheilshifter2418]

Five INT's seems like a fair return for DJ. Jackson is living up to quality starter status and playing an important role opposite Joey. Let's put things in perspective with Pickens who's very similar to Jameson Williams. Both top rated talents who have some emotional issues to work through. Give George some time to prove himself, he's young and youth deserve a chance to grow/learn. Sure the team should proceed with caution and maybe even consider trade possibilities in the offseason if they're uncomfortable offering an extension. But I see a young man with fire in his game that just needs proper care and time to grow. Maybe the refs deserve more scrutiny too when they allow a Bengals player to pull a receiver down by his helmet but go all yellow flag on Joey for lesser infractions.

[@MoMan.88]

I wouldn’t pay Pickens if I was the Steelers, money never makes a guy better just worse, it’s a bummer because George is such a immense talent, but you think he’s a menace now, pay him big money and he’ll be absolutely unmanageable, I’d say this is probably his last year here unfortunately.

[@llegion3369]

I dont think we're there yet with Pickens. I like his fire but agree he has to clean up the penalties. Having said that, at this point, I think it would be silly not to resign him.

[@josephdonovan9125]

GP is a Dawg and without him this offense is Dog sheet.

[@MrWellz412]

I don’t agree with you about alot of things having to do with the Steelers… namely the head coach. But bravo to you sir for bringing up the obvious about this absolute head case. There is NO POSSIBLE WAY we can pay this guy $30+m/ year with the way he acts week to week. He’s a one in a million talent… but sometimes that isn’t the most important thing. I think we’re going to get into a game here real soon and he’s gonna fold up… and people are REALLY gonna see what this guy is all about

[@RobertKrzeminski-v4e]

IMO if they can’t correct the issue now, I think it’ll get worse once he’s paid either by us or some other team.

[@BigTiny-pv5he]

If the Steelers pay Pickens. He’s going to be a nightmare. Trade him for good value and move on. The Steelers don’t need tied to that anchor for years to come.

[@blitzburgh9066]

When did Pickens fight with teammates on the sideline? Or we just yapping?

[@acgonzales7]

do they wait and let him play out his 4th year or do they get ahead and spend money to sign Higgins next spring or draft a WR high?

[@christophersexton5778]

Tomlin said he dont want robots that he's not gonna control what ppl say

[@SteelixtheSteelersfan]

Honestly doubt it although he is a menace he's also a playmakwr

[@steel8240]

Do some of you tune out when you hear things that perhaps you don’t like or don’t agree with? Alan clearly states Jackson has been good but was on his way to being cut. It was clear then and it’s still clear now that the Steelers were dumping Johnson, regardless of how Jackson has played. It was always a deal of addition by subtraction

[@crowe1974]

Pickens will get paid by someone!! 2 talented not to. And I don't want Johnson back

[@johnj.todora4128]

Nah. Respectfully, this is the outside looking in. He is young. And being young comes with being dumb. He will grow out of it. I bet we see a 2 year extension. One year is 100% guaranteed. That lets them cut him if it goes 100% wrong but still just trade him if it goes a little bit wrong.

[@StraightRocketFuel]

GP needs to do a lot of growing up before I would hand him a bag. Sucks because he’s an awesome player, but the guy is a loose cannon and has shown no growth in maturity what so ever. I would be drafting WR very high this year.

[@JohnDadPapa]

If he does not “grow up” before the end of this season, then GOOD BYE. Stop all this BS about being a “dawg.” Dawgs viciously help their team win, not dramatically stroke their own ego.

[@ThePittsburghToddy]

This wasn’t your best episode. Has Pickens done some childish things? Yes, of course. Is he among the better receivers in the league? Also, yes. Without him the receiver room would be decimated and counting on the draft or the few potential free agents to replace him would be a mistake in my opinion. Further, how are you so certain that Carolina was going to cut Donte Jackson when you don’t seem to remember his name?

[@ericbroadnax-jq5tz]

It's football yall are soft

[@hemeheru6219]

Pickens is a dog...If we're keeping Joey Porter Jr...We shouldn't even think of giving up Pickens..Let's not be Dum.. We're suffering because we let Dionte Johnson go...Why Allen do you always say, if Pickens gets hurt then we're screwed..? Because he is our Alpha.. Fine him for his small issues and let's keep moving forward..

[@tiemann55]

George is just another entitled player from today who thinks he deserves everything. It’s just todays NFL