Pickens' penalties in context

[Techsass]

Former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh revealed some key details on why the Pittsburgh Steelers traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week. It lines up with previous reports. The Steelers quite simply had enough with Pickens’ antics.

“George Pickens had stepped over and crossed the line a bit too many times and I know people that play with the Steelers. He’d be late for the team plane that would be flying out to away games multiple times. He’d be late to get on the team bus and they had enough of it,” Houshmandzadeh said on the Up On Game podcast.

“They didn’t want to pay him 30-plus million dollars and these antics are probably just going to get worse because you’re not even making anywhere near that. You’re doing all this now? What you gonna do when you get the money? And so they said. ‘You know what, we’re gonna get rid of [him]. Dallas, he’s your problem,’ but he’s gonna be a really good problem.”

In 2023, Pickens was fined over $200,000 between the NFL and the Steelers for on- and off-the-field incidents, including reported serial tardiness to team practices and meetings.

In 2024, he received over $80,000 in fines from the NFL for his on-field behavior, including unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct, two fights after the end of a loss, and a profane message on his eye black. He also got into a sideline spat with fans.

Perhaps the most egregious of offenses was that Pickens arrived late to the team’s Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs, missing pregame warmups despite the fact that he was returning to action from a hamstring injury.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network revealed on the Rich Eisen Show that Pickens was late for multiple games last season, not just the Chiefs game.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/ex-nfl-wr-reveals-why-191143842.html

Ouch. Now I'm nervous

Folks should read the full article.

What you didn't quote was what bothers me the most. I don't like but can live with being late to a couple meetings, but how does a player regularly show up late to games? Also late for the plane & bus rides to away games. Going blank on his name, but we got rid of our WR/Kick Returner for missing the plane to a NY Giants game.

 

[RS12]

Ouch. Now I'm nervous

Folks should read the full article.

What you didn't quote was what bothers me the most. I don't like but can live with being late to a couple meetings, but how does a player regularly show up late to games? Also late for the plane & bus rides to away games. Going blank on his name, but we got rid of our WR/Kick Returner for missing the plane to a NY Giants game.

He is known to quit on routes. Should be interesting around around game 4 and he thinks he isn't getting the ball enough or a new contract,

 

[darthseinfeld]

Looking at that list I see Tyler Smith and Micah and Guyton all having 14 accepted penalties the last two years
the real thing is that guyton got them all IN ONE YEAR.

And he only played like half the year

 

[Beaker42]

Parsons has 14?? What for as I don’t remember that many. Also, he should have drawn 3-4 per game on the opposing O-line but those see to go “unnoticed”………

 

[Beaker42]

Looking at that list I see Tyler Smith and Micah and Guyton all having 14 accepted penalties the last two years
the real thing is that guyton got them all IN ONE YEAR.

Yeah, he’s close to bust status as is.

 

[Chasing6]

its the locker room rumors that worry me; but once again we do not know the whole story

Bottom line is he gets a clean start. He has a great opportunity in front of him. If he can't control himself on a contract year, then we will know all we need to know, when the season is over.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Who cares?

The real question is will he quit and cause drama if things don’t go his way?

History says yes.

Might I also say this team commits penalties all the time mostly at a bad time, he's going to fit in well

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think penalties were necessarily what people are worried about. I think its more locker room and coaching issues.

He hasn't been an issue in the locker room or off the field.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Ouch. Now I'm nervous

Folks should read the full article.

What you didn't quote was what bothers me the most. I don't like but can live with being late to a couple meetings, but how does a player regularly show up late to games? Also late for the plane & bus rides to away games. Going blank on his name, but we got rid of our WR/Kick Returner for missing the plane to a NY Giants game.

Lucky Whitehead! It's been forever since I've seen that guy's name. Rumor was that the team actually cut him for sleeping with Zeke's girlfriend.

 

[Creeper]

Interesting. Not sure where I saw the tweet, but it said he was well liked by his teammates. I think it was somewhere here on Cowboyszone.

I saw that right after the trade. But more recently report or rumors are that his team did not like him and he had no real friends on the team.

https://sportsnaut.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers-feared-toxic-locker-room-with-george-pickens/

 

[Spottswoode]

No, I think the concern is very much being a potential detriment to the team during the game. Penalties can affect the game by killing drives, changing game time management, and shift momentum.

Same issue for Warriors fans with Draymond Green.

And yet the Steelers signed DK Metcalf who I believe has more personal foul penalties than any WR in the NFL since 2020.

And despite protests from Pete Carroll, he said he isn’t going to change and that it wasn’t harming the team.

 

[plymkr]

If they are down by 20 late in the 4th and he snaps I can live with it. Just don't cost the team 15 in a 1 score game.

Good point. Timing is everything.