“Pebble in My Shoe”: Mike Tomlin Confirms He Is Frustrated About George Pickens’ Drama as Steelers HC Calls Out ‘Cute’ Media

As the NFL 2023 season is catching up to its finale, new drama just keeps on unfolding. This time, it’s coming from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ corner. The wide receiver George Pickens isn’t happy with how things are progressing between him and the team, and he let it be known on his social media. This stunt though has caused some problems for the head coach Mike Tomlin.

Seemingly, Pickens is frustrated with his utilization in the team and is going through an identity crisis of his own. Though the Steelers won the game against the Tennessee Titans, some things have become roadblocks for the Steelers’ WR. A post from MLFootball has rattled the internet as Mike Tomlin finally gives his take on the situation.

George Pickens: causing troubles for the HC

Pickens arguably had one of the worst games of this season as he recorded 2 receptions over -1 yard. This came after Diontae Johnson’s touchdown that gave the Steelers the lead. But instead of celebrating, the WR was disappointed! His chance of having a touchdown was taken away after it was ruled invalid because he didn’t have his feet inbound. Notably, the last game against the Jaguars wasn’t fruit-bearing for him either.

This has caused some frustrations for Pickens! So much so that he unfollowed HC Mike Tomlin, Kenny Pickett, and Diontae Johnson from his Instagram. He posted “Free me” on his Instagram story, probably an indication for the Steelers to take as well. The situation overall, however, has become a thorn in the way of Mike Tomlin.

Pickens expressed his concerns to the HC, but as per Tomlin, the media is making it sound more serious than it is. In a tweet by MLFootball, Tomlin’s perspective was brought forth. He said, “I know it’s a cute story for you guys, but it is a pebble in my shoe, to be quite honest with you, in terms of the things that I have to do in an effort to get this group ready to play.” 

He addressed the media treating the game and the situation like reality TV and bringing out news only that favors their narrative. However, the coach was also quick to remark about understanding the WR’s perspective, admitting the admiration for Pickens’ zest to be a matchwinner.

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Tomlin extends understanding to Pickens’ point of view

According to Mike Tomlin, Pickens’ mind is in the right place because, in the end, he wants to make an impact on the Steelers. His teammate Kenny Pickett mentioned how his contributions to the team go beyond the stat lines. Currently, there are some rumors that the ongoing circumstances with the current team might force Pickens to look for alternatives.

This coming from the Steelers’ WR may be a natural reaction for someone who was having 100-yard games before the onset of his slump. It’s natural to feel frustrated by the situation, though the announcement of the concerns through social media might not have been the most ideal step for the footballer.

However, in the end, all he wants to do is to have a significant impact on the team. Mike Tomlin highlighted support for the WR in this thought process, commenting, “He wants to be a reason why we’re successful. I don’t begrudge that.” Tomlin added, “I want guys who want the football. I want guys who want to be central reasons why we’re successful. That’s a non-issue to be quite honest with you.”

With the ease of communication, matters might resolve much more quickly than even anticipated by the Steelers. What do you think of the situation? Let us know in the comments.

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