Where Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome Jr. was able to draw George Pickens into a scuffle on a Hail Mary play, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver wanted no part in a war of words.
After the Browns’ 24-19 win last week, Newsome called Pickens a “fake tough guy” after the two tangled through the end zone and out of bounds and had to be separated by security on the last-second desperation pass.
When asked about the social media post, Pickens opted to play the Marshawn Lynch card.
“No, I’m just here right now so I won’t get fined,” Pickens said after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, an obvious reference to the former Seattle Seahawks running back’s repeated responses at Super Bowl XLIX Media Day in January 2015.
Pickens was more charitable in talking about the offensive challenge the Steelers face in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, who lead the league in passing yards at 262.7 a game and are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the most passing touchdowns (27).
“It’s two potent offenses going against each other. It’s going to be a scoring battle,” Pickens said. “You know they’ve got (Ja’Marr) Chase and Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow. We’ve got Russ, me, Mike, Cal, so scoring for sure is going to be a factor in the game.”
Where things got heated with Newsome, Pickens said he doesn’t view it as a personal battle against Chase, who leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,056), receiving touchdowns (12) and receptions of 40 yards or more (six) and ranks second in yards after catch (481) and first-down receptions (47) and is in the top five in targets (100) and receptions (73).
“Nah,” Pickens said. “Me personally, I just go out there and play. I’m pretty sure he does the same thing.”