Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has denied allegations that he criticized the team’s spending and expressed a lack of desire to build the roster. After being traded to the Dallas Cowboys recently, Pickens faced accusations of making derogatory comments about the Steelers on Instagram.
A comment attributed to him claimed the Steelers were the “cheapest organization” in the league. And while some reports suggested that Pickens seemed to stand by those comments, he later responded with a meme stating, “I thought you were wrong!”
In a subsequent Instagram story, Pickens claimed he was on a plane with no phone service when the comments circulated. “Literally on the plane. There’s no service. I saw him land and lie straight away. [Pittsburgh] Fans,” he wrote. He then dismissed the whole situation, saying, “Stop it with the AI you’re trying to create a story. I’m happy with everything Steel City did for me. Happy Mother’s Day for all.”
Whether these comments originated from Pickens or not, there seems to have been some tension in his relationship with the Steelers. The Steelers traded him, along with a late round pick, for a third-round selection, which raised eyebrows. Pickens notably led the team in receiving yards last season.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin commented that the situation was a “pebble in my shoe,” noting that he hoped Pickens would mature following penalties he received during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the Steelers’ wildcard playoff loss in January, fans reacted negatively when Pickens was asked about feeling optimistic moving forward. His blunt “Um, no,” seemed to resonate poorly with those watching, leading to widespread criticism regarding his understanding of optimism.
Now, with the Cowboys, Pickens is set to make a significant portion of the remaining salary from his four-year contract. At 24, he’s poised to earn around $3.66 million, which is almost three times what he made in his previous three seasons.
