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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Blasts Critics of George Pickens' Attitude

The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach isn't having the "BS" narrative of George Pickens.

Noah Strackbein

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PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie George Pickens caught everyone's attention when he was seen yelling on the sideline in frustration about his lack of targets in Week 13. 

The wideout finished with his second-worst game of the season, catching just one pass for two yards. Somewhere during the third quarter, television cameras caught Pickens yelling to someone on the sideline "throw me the [explicit] ball". 

Well, despite most outlets talking about the manner in a negative fashion, head coach Mike Tomlin doesn't see it that way.  

"I'd rather say woo than sick 'em," Tomlin said during his weekly press conference. "I want a guy that wants to be a significant part of what it is that we do."

Tomlin did acknowledge Pickens will learn how to properly express his displeasure during games but continued to defend the rookie from unnecessary criticism that followed the game. 

"Now the appropriate and professional and mature way to express that we're growing and working on and we will continue," Tomlin said. "But that spirit, that competitive spirit, the guy that wants to ball, nah, I want that guy. You know, I would imagine T.J. [Watt] wants to lay the quarterback down more. We got competitors, this is professional football. These guys know that they have to deliver. And so for a guy that wants to do that, I'm not gonna make that a negative, no matter how silly I think the commentary is or people talking about him expressing frustrations and stuff and trying to make it a negative storyline. I laugh at that. Again, that's one of the reasons why we're continually progressing, because we're capable of tuning that BS out."

The Steelers' second-round pick has caught 37 passes for 512 yards and two touchdowns this season. He's now had four games of one reception or less this season.

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Noah Strackbein
NOAH STRACKBEIN

Noah is the Publisher for All Steelers, Inside the Panthers (InsideThePanthers.com) and Inside the Penguins (InsidethePenguins.com), and is the host of All Steelers Talk (YouTube.com/AllSteelersTalk). A Scranton native, Noah made his way to the Pittsburgh sports scene in 2017. Now, he's pretty much full-yinzer.

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