George Pickens had his ups and downs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, to say the least. There have been excellent catches and different nice moments sprinkled in there, but additionally loads of irritating moments, too. In line with Steelers beat author Mike DeFabo, Mike Tomlin deserves some blame for the way in which issues went down.
“When it got here to being an expert, realizing that you simply’re paid handsomely and this crew is counting upon you, he [Pickens] confirmed up repeatedly late for issues,” DeFabo stated on FS1’s The Herd on Friday. “I’ve to take a look at Mike Tomlin and say, he created this setting the place it was doable for this to occur.”
After the 2024 season, loads of studies surfaced relating to Pickens, they usually weren’t good ones. Most notably him exhibiting up late to the Steelers’ Christmas Day loss in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. That was the primary week he was energetic after lacking a few video games with an damage. It was additionally shortly after Tomlin talked about that Pickens wanted to “develop up”. Clearly, that message didn’t land.
Beneath Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have been fairly an fascinating crew. He’s gaining respect for doing extra with much less, though he undoubtedly has a say by way of roster constructing. He’s additionally handled fairly a couple of characters, Pickens being the newest. Earlier than Pickens, everyone seems to be nicely conscious of how issues went down with Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
Talking of Bell, DeFabo thinks he’s an instance of the dearth of change Mike Tomlin has by way of enabling his star gamers.
“You return to the place this entire dropping streak started, Le’Veon Bell reported late for that playoff sport,” DeFabo stated. “And now right here we’re, years later, and also you’ve received on Christmas Day, George Pickens reporting late… While you’re treating folks on totally different ranges, that’s unfair to the blokes who’re doing the proper factor.”
DeFabo appears to be referring to the Steelers’ loss in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars within the divisional spherical again in 2018, when Bell confirmed up late. He’s not mistaken that there’s a sample of this taking place. That complete 2017-18 season was stuffed with distractions from star gamers in Pittsburgh. Whereas folks acknowledge Mike Tomlin as a gamers coach, he does have a historical past of enabling that form of habits, from Bell all the way in which to Pickens throughout the previous couple of years.
Now, Tomlin should handle one other locker room that might be robust. Whereas Pickens is gone, Tomlin nonetheless has to handle DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, who’ve every been described as headcases themselves. Though Aaron Rodgers appears to be off to a superb begin in Pittsburgh, Tomlin’s received to ensure issues mesh nicely with Rodgers and Arthur Smith. Particularly after Smith and Russell Wilson’s relationship started to deteriorate final 12 months.
Tomlin could also be doing extra with much less. Nevertheless, additionally he might have his gamers’ again an excessive amount of at instances. Bell exhibiting up late to a playoff sport the Steelers misplaced by a subject purpose is expensive. Identical to it was when Pickens confirmed up late to a must-win sport late within the season. If the Steelers need to have any success in 2025, Tomlin’s received to have a greater grasp in that regard.
