George Pickens, the wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was criticized by former head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Cowher after Pickens said he didn’t finish a block in the team’s 30–13 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday because he didn’t “want to get an injury.”
In particular, at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, Pickens failed to finish a block on a play that may have led to a touchdown run by Jaylen Warren. When Warren later told reporters on Wednesday that he “would have blocked for” Pickens in a same circumstance, it caused some controversy. At that time, Warren also said, “We play differently, so…”
In addition, current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stated on Wednesday that, in spite of what transpired in Indianapolis, Pickens, a “work-in-progress,” will play this coming Saturday afternoon against the 8-6 Cincinnati Bengals. Cowher said he would have approached the matter and Pickens’s standing in a different way.
Cowher went on, “The one thing that should never be questioned is effort.” “That is very bothersome and I think there [has to be] consequences for that.”
This month, a lot of talk has focused on the Steelers’ alleged bad culture, especially in light of their unexpected three-game losing streak that reduced them to 7-7 and left them outside of the AFC bracket for the playoff tournament heading into Week 16. The ESPN Football Power Index gave Pittsburgh a 4.0% chance to qualify for the playoffs as of early Thursday night.
Oddschecker had the Steelers as 2.5-point home favorites against the Bengals on Saturday night as of Thursday night.
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