Pittsburgh Steelers: Fight With Browns Player Could Be Costly for George Pickens
George Pickens wasn't happy after the Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns, and he could be receiving more bad news.
The star wide receiver is being investigated by the NFL for his fight with Greg Newsome of the Cleveland Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Pickens and Newsome got into an altercation on the final play of Cleveland's 24-19 win, as Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was throwing a Hail Mary pass into the end zone. Pickens, who is fifth in the NFL in receiving yards (776), never made a play on the ball as he continued scuffling with Newsome.
Pickens told reporters after the game that "nothing" happened between he and Newsome and didn't give the Browns credit, saying they were helped by the snowy conditions.
"Conditions played a huge, huge part in today's game," Pickens said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. "I don't really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them.
"I don't even think the QB could see sometimes. And when you got conditions like that, at the opponents' home field, it kind of plays in their favor."
Newsome responded to Pickens' actions on social media after the game.
As Pickens awaits word from the NFL, the division-leading Steelers (8-3) will prepare for another tough AFC North game in Week 13 when they visit the Bengals.
Cleveland Browns: Will Jameis Winston Be the Starting Quarterback Next Season?
Jameis Winston signed a one-year contract with the Browns (3-8), but they have responded to his leadership and are 2-2 since he took over for Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback. The Browns have a huge decision to make on Watson, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and has struggled since signing a $230 million fully-guaranteed contract in 2022.
Cleveland's future at quarterback remains uncertain, but there's no doubt Winston is a hit with teammates and coaches.
"He doesn't get rattled," All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said via Tom Withers of The Associated Press. "He's just tuned in and focused as anyone I've seen at that position.
"I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it's a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can't ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we're actually brothers and that's what we have to attain."
The Browns have a chance to be playoff spoilers down the stretch, with remaining games against the Denver Broncos, Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Ravens. Whether Winston returns to Cleveland next season remains to be seen, but Head Coach Kevin Stefanski believes the veteran quarterback's ability to lead has clicked with everyone.
"A very, very authentic person," Stefanski said. "He's the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he is at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him."
Cincinnati Bengals: Coming off Bye, Hot Streak Needs to Start Quickly
The Bengals (4-7) had a bye in Week 12, and now they need to get hot.
Cincinnati may need a six-game winning streak to make the playoffs, starting with Sunday's home game against the Steelers. Six of Cincinnati's seven losses have been by one score or less, and Head Coach Zac Taylor thinks winning a close game could ignite the Bengals.
"Sometimes it just takes winning one of these games to, 'OK, there we go, that monkey's off our back a little bit,'" Taylor said via the team’s website. "Now let's go continue and finish.
"It's kind of a snowball effect. Unfortunately, the snowball's gone the wrong way for us this year. There's no excuse for that. We've got to find solutions, find ways to finish it."
Taylor said the Bengals are not demoralized by how the season has played out so far.
"We're not writing anything off," Taylor said. "Of course we're frustrated and disappointed, but it won't change anything with how we get after it with the energy and the right confidence moving forward."
