Jets’ Davante Adams’ Surprising Take on George Pickens As Steelers WR Abandons Media Day

A lot will ride on George Pickens’ shoulders when the Steelers line up against the Ravens in the Wild Card game. The wide receiver has had another rollercoaster of a season, picking fights, and sporting a controversial black eye all the while struggling with injury. Yet, it is on Pickens, that the Steelers will pin a lot of their hopes, and while the player once again stirred the pot just before the game against the Ravens, Davante Adams has once again praised the WR.

Pickens’ temperament got the better of him on a few occasions this season. During Pittsburg’s TNF loss to the Browns in November Pickens got into a fight with Greg Newsome II. As Browns was covering Pickens during a Hail Mary attempt by the Steelers, he pushed the wide receiver out of the end zone. However, as the game approached the end, Pickens tangled with Newsome II and the two started to fight outside the back of the end zone.

This was one of the many headline-grabbing incidents involving Pickens this season, but Adams remains an admirer. Joining Kay Adams on Up and Adams on Friday, the Jets WR gave a shoutout to Pickens ahead of his second career playoff game. Adams showered the young Steelers wide receiver with praise while slyly addressing his unpredictable side.

“George is a hell of a talent. He’s a unique player. He’s got a very unorthodox style. And I’ve told him I’m a fan of his game ever since college. He’s a dog. I’ve always been a fan of him, his physicality coming off the ball.” Previously, Adams tweeted his reaction when Pickens’s one-handed 36-yard horizontal catch went viral in September 2022. Adams tweeted, “George Pickens…re-lax.”

Pickens is known as one of the NFL’s best-contested wideouts, turning half chances into his favor regularly. Adams then talked about other aspects of Pickens’s game that make him such an enticing prospect.

“He’s been a little bit of a wild card this year, or I guess in his career. But everybody’s got a different personality, and he’s got one of the best head coaches in the game [Mike Tomlin] over there to help deal with him similar to how he dealt with AB [Antonio Brown], so obviously having him is gonna help. I’m sure it would help to get a few of those things under control, but that’s who he is. He’s a hell of a player, and he makes plays when he gets out on the field, so what are you gonna do?” Adams said.

This season Pickens had 59 receptions out of 103 receiving targets and has had 900 yards with 3 touchdowns. Hardly impressive numbers by his own standards, having led Pittsburgh in receiving for the last two seasons. On the other hand, he has hauled in 12 catches of 30+ air yards this season, which is second only to Tyreek Hill since 2000.

Yet his antics this season drew more attention.

Apart from getting into a fight with Newsome II, he received a facemask penalty in early November after the wide receiver tried to stiff-arm Washington cornerback Benjamin St. Juste, but he got his hands interlocked with the grills. During the Steelers’ loss against the Cowboys, Pickens incurred not one but two fines.

First, he was fined $10,230 after grabbing the facemask of Dallas cornerback Jourdain Lewis after the final play, as he yanked him to the ground. Then he received a $10,231 fine for his eye black message he wore during the game. Pickens wrote “Open F***ing Always” on his eye black under his eyes.

Moreover, at the end of this season, Pickens’ future will also be a topic of debate. He is up for a contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie deal in 2025, but it is difficult to predict how would Pickens react to any offer that won’t match his demands. Extend Pickens or cut ties before his volatility outweighs his value? Pittsburgh has a history of moving on from wideouts with diva tendencies. But Pickens’s raw talent makes him tough to replace.

That is a problem for another day. Right now, he is giving the franchise another headache as his feud with media continues.

George Pickens skips media day: Bold move or blunder?

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported on Pickens skipping his routine media day interviews this week. His decision to skip Media Day comes at a critical time. The Steelers are set to face their rivals in a high-stakes playoff battle. And missing a chance to rally the fanbase and media raises questions. Was it a tactical choice to focus on the game? Or was it a reflection of his “wild card” nature?

Pickens previously refused to talk to the reporters after the team’s Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys while last week following the defeat to Bengals he declined an interview request.

Either way, his absence leaves room for interpretation… and, of course, for that of criticism. Fans are divided, with some defending his focus while others question his commitment. Pickens has set the stakes pretty high for himself with his shenanigans. His playoff performance will either overshadow or amplify his Media Day snub.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens sits on the sideline during his team’s game against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2, 2023. — Ed Thompson / Steelers NowA standout game could silence critics. But a lackluster showing might intensify the scrutiny. Pickens’s role looms large as the Steelers navigate this playoff run. His talent is undeniable. But the question remains: can he balance brilliance with stability? Fans and analysts will watch closely. As they know, the outcome could shape the Steelers’ future and George Pickens’s legacy.