George Pickens Dismisses Greg Newsome Ahead of Steelers-Browns Rematch
PITTSBURGH — The tension is already building ahead of Sunday’s AFC North clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, and George Pickens is making sure everyone knows where he stands. When asked about Browns cornerback Greg Newsome, the Steelers’ third-year wide receiver didn’t hold back. In fact, he claimed he doesn’t even know who Newsome is.
“I don’t even know who that is,” Pickens said Friday, just days before the two teams meet again in Pittsburgh. The comment comes after a heated altercation between the two players during the Steelers’ Week 12 loss to the Browns, a game that ended with a scuffle during a Hail Mary attempt.
Week 12 Drama: Pickens vs. Newsome
The bad blood between Pickens and Newsome stems from their encounter in the snowy end zone during that Thursday night game. As the two players ran downfield, Pickens appeared to drag Newsome out of the end zone and continued the altercation against the retaining wall separating the field from the stands. Security and stadium personnel eventually intervened to separate the two.
After the game, Newsome didn’t mince words, calling Pickens a “fake tough guy.” On Friday, Newsome responded to Pickens’ latest comments and addressed how he plans to handle the inevitable trash talk in their rematch.
“I’m all about the team,” Newsome said. “Obviously, he’s a guy that cares more so about himself, and you can see that in the penalties he causes. For me, my job is to try and do whatever I can to help the team win. There’s never going to be no one-on-one battle for me. My battle is to try and help my team get the win.”
Trash Talk and Penalties
Neither Pickens nor Newsome were fined by the NFL for their Week 12 altercation, though Newsome expressed surprise that Pickens wasn’t penalized financially. “Things like that, I think, is definitely unnecessary,” Newsome said. “And the league has done a great job in fining unnecessary behavior. But if they didn’t see it as a fine, that’s cool with me. I’m just going to go out and try to, like I said, help my team get a win.”
Pickens, however, has continued to draw attention for his on-field antics. Just a week after the Browns game, he picked up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Bengals. One was for throwing the ball at Bengals defenders after a catch, and another for what officials deemed a violent gesture. He even punted the ball into the stands after scoring a touchdown.
Mike Tomlin Weighs In
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t shied away from addressing Pickens’ behavior. After the Bengals game, Tomlin was blunt in his assessment of the young receiver. “He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said. “This emotional game, man, these divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George, he understands that, but he’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up in a hurry.”
When asked during his Tuesday press conference about how he’s handling Pickens’ development, Tomlin declined to go into detail. “I’m not going to give you any detail about what goes on behind the scenes in terms of his growth and development,” Tomlin said. “That’s my style, and I’m going to be really consistent in it. Being transparent with you guys doesn’t necessarily help or accelerate the growth process, and that’s my agenda, not necessarily feeding the beast.”
Pickens’ Perspective
For his part, Pickens seems unsure about how to avoid penalties moving forward. “I’m out here making plays and doing the same celebrations that every other receiver’s doing, so I’m not sure,” he said Friday. “… When you’re playing hard and the league has a target on your back, then you possibly, I’m not saying 100 percent, but you possibly could get flags.”
When asked if he believes he has a target on his back, Pickens said he wasn’t sure. “I’m just out here playing like every other receiver,” he said.
What’s Next?
As the Steelers and Browns prepare to face off again, all eyes will be on Pickens and Newsome to see if their rivalry spills over into Sunday’s game. With both teams fighting for playoff positioning, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Pickens keep his emotions in check, or will the rematch reignite the fireworks? One thing’s for sure: this is a game you won’t want to miss.
- Key Takeaway: George Pickens dismissed Greg Newsome ahead of their rematch, reigniting their Week 12 feud.
- What to Watch: Will Pickens’ behavior draw more penalties, or will he focus on helping the Steelers secure a win?
- Coaching Insight: Mike Tomlin emphasized the need for Pickens to mature quickly in the high-stakes AFC North.
Originally Written by: Brooke Pryor
