There is always that one person who is ready to play a game of ‘Hide n Seek’. Well, that’s George Pickens in Steel City. Talk to the reporters? Nope! Interviews? Hard pass! In fact, just days before the Steelers gear up to face the Ravens, Pickens was out there perfecting his disappearing act. But first, let us go back to their Week 5 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. While Mike Tomlin spoke about Pickens’ limited snaps, the wide receiver hid in the equipment room for major parts of the 45-minute media window.

Of course, no receiver would like to hear about their limited involvement, but Pickens chose to wear his emotions not on his sleeve but on his mouthguard. It read, ‘Always F—ing Open’. However, his avoidant behavior has continued.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported that Pickens skipped his usual media day interviews this week. She wrote on X:

“George Pickens did not make himself available for locker room interviews this week. He typically talks the last day of the practice week – Thursdays/Fridays depending on game schedule – but didn’t today. He also declined an interview request postgame vs. Cincy last week.”

Well, no one’s chasing you, Pickens. Except the league’s rulebook. According to NFL rules, the players must be present to talk to the media after every game and regularly in person during the practice week. Also, a player or a group of players cannot boycott the media.

If any particular athlete has too much media demand, they must be available at least once during the practice week and also during their post-game interviews. However, this applies to just a couple of players per team. For such personalities, the minimum availability does not include other media obligations, such as network production meetings. So, will George Pickens be fined for his media avoidance?

Well, is something we need to watch out for. But let us not forget that in 2023, Marshawn Lynch revealed how he was fined for avoiding reporters. His “I’m here so I won’t get fined” statement before the Super Bowl XLIX game between the Seahawks and Patriots at the end of the 2014 season is still one of the most famous quotes in the league. Why was the statement made?

“The fines started accumulating from seasons before, and now they’re [the NFL] running the number up. $1.2 [million] for just not talking to the media,” Lynch said. He revealed he used to go back to the locker room a couple of minutes before the games would end (if it was clear his team was winning). But by the time his team got to the locker room, he would have already showered and would start packing up because he wanted to get back to his family.

However, the fines started rolling for missing mandatory media interactions. As per the information available, he avoided a $500,000 fine from the league by showing up for the media interaction, where he dropped the line, “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”

One can only hope that Picken learns from Lynch’s experiences. That being said, head coach Mike Tomlin has an eye on Pickens. Tomlin openly called him out to leave the antics out of the gridiron.

Contrary to popular belief, George Pickens’ issues are not going unnoticed!

George Pickens is a phenomenal talent… That statement is losing popularity in Steel City. On the recent report about him dodging reporters, one fan vented: “So tired of his act. Hope he gets fined. Tomlin promotes this behavior. Order him to meet the media standards in his contract and NFL policy or fine him if he does not. I don’t care how much talent Pickens has. Trade this current and future team PROBLEM.”

Yikes. Steelers Nation isn’t mincing words, and honestly, you can’t blame them. Reporters deserve better, and apparently, Mike Tomlin is finally taking notes. With Pickens missing weeks due to injury and struggling since his return, even Tomlin’s patience seems to be wearing thin.

Let’s break it down. Christmas Day against the Chiefs—Pickens returned after a hamstring injury but didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard. Three catches, 50 yards, and an eyebrow-raising lack of effort on a red-zone route that led to an interception. Fast forward to the Bengals game in Week 18, and it got uglier: one reception for zero yards on six targets, including three brutal drops. The player was so flustered that we could see him arguing with fans during the broadcast.

And it’s not just his performance. Pickens has been a magnet for fines and criticism, with his rookie deal nearing its final year in 2025. The Steelers need him to step up, not just for the team’s sake but for his own future. Mike Tomlin, though, hasn’t held back. Earlier this season, after Pickens had a sideline sulk fest and racked up penalties, Tomlin told him to “grow up”.

Tomlin doubled down after the Bengals loss, saying: “I’m not going to give you any detail about what goes on behind the scenes… He’s got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that, but he’s gotta grow up.” Translation: Time’s ticking, George. Even Shannon Sharpe chimed in, pointing out that Tomlin might have let Pickens’ behavior slide too long. Sharpe said, “You tolerate things in a win you never would in a loss…” He went on to add that Pickens might not just be the ingredient for a winning recipe.

Harsh? Maybe. But given the drops, sideline tantrums, and missed opportunities, it’s hard to argue.

Now, the Steelers have a Wild Card date with the Ravens—a high-stakes matchup against Lamar Jackson this season. With tensions running high and playoff hopes on the line, the question isn’t just whether Pickens can deliver on the field. It’s whether he can finally mature off it. For Pittsburgh’s sake, let’s hope he can pull it together.