Pittsburgh — George Pickens’ attitude problems are being worked through by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and although they are willing to admit that this is a problem
Pittsburgh — George Pickens’ attitude problems are being worked through by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and although they are willing to admit that this is a problem that needs to be fixed, they are not giving up hope that it will be resolved.
Head coach Mike Tomlin was asked to address the situation when Pickens’ lack of effort during the team’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts and his admission that he did not want to risk injury caused people to become irate.
“George is a gifted man, but he is developing in many areas—both in football and in life,” Tomlin remarked. “We do not try to avoid that. When we draft guys, organizationally, we go to that. Our dedication lies in our ability to contribute to their advancement in every aspect.”
While acknowledging that Pickens is “very much a work in progress,” Tomlin said he and Pickens meet once a week to help Pickens advance professionally.
To be perfectly honest with you, no single event, gathering, or kind of discipline is going to bring about the kind of change we are looking for. It will go on continuously. That is something he knows,” Tomlin said. “We get together frequently. He and I met last Wednesday, and we did so again today. I simply wanted to be clear about a few of those points.
“To further improve process flow, I would like him to address some of his shortcomings with you guys in a more professional manner. By dealing with you guys in this way, he is not helping the process and he is not helping himself. However, when it comes to accepting where he is and where he needs to go, the way he handles you guys is not always the same as the way he handles us or himself.”
Pickens will play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, according to Tomlin, and it is currently anticipated that he will start. That has no bearing on the team’s opinion that he needs to mature.
Regarding Pickens’ decision to play, Tomlin stated, “We want to utilize him because he has talents.” “He still has a lot of growing to do, but it would not change if we were winning games or if he had said something appropriate to you guys yesterday. Even though you guys might have left, it would not have eased my concerns about the process he is going through, which is ongoing and unending and will always need our attention. Positive or negative bumps in the road, or events that happen, do not affect me.
“I am just admitting that it is a process, and my stance based on the situation as it stands now and any positive or negative incidents will not change. Similar to how we come to work every day for football, we come to work every day in that regard. I want him to realize that education plays a part in it as well. Much of the attention and other things come from winning and performing well at your job. Keep your mouth shut and realize that you will draw attention of your own when you are not performing your job and losing it. That is usually vulture-like focus.”
