OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: 5 and 2 Justin who? Hand the Fields to Wilson

[Peat]

Dulac was also comparing the hamstring injury to Fields’ which was essentially a two-game recovery….zero suggestion it had the potential to be season-ending…

Then it's probably not a type 2? At least according to good Dr Google?

Who 'kin knows at this point but right now, what's out there doesn't add up.

 

[MrBrightside]

 

[MrBrightside]

For an 11-2 team, Philly is having some drama.

 

[T1K]

Kaboly and Dulac both reporting Pickens is going to miss week 15 makes me believe that there is a 100% chance he plays this week. Those guys never get anything right.

I keep going back to Tomlin’s comments that Pickens “needs to grow up quick”. The timing of this injury sure was convenient…

 

[cookthebooks]

i view the likelihood of them making up a hamstring injury to punish pickens as basically zero

 

[Factorial]

i view the likelihood of them making up a hamstring injury to punish pickens as basically zero

There's a constant barrage of conspiracy theories in politics that it's bleeding over into sports.

 

[TooManyHumans]

Pickens supposedly practiced Friday and woke up Saturday with the hamstring bothering him. He did walkthroughs but then when he tested it before the game they decided the shut him down. They are probably just trying to have him ready for the Ravens. I don't see any need to invent some crazy conspiracy theory to explain what is happening.

ETA: Now I see Schefter is reporting that Pickens woke up Friday with it and missed practice that day.

 

[WickedWrister]

Steelers should take a flyer on KJ Osborn

 

[JTG]

Kaboly and Dulac both reporting Pickens is going to miss week 15 makes me believe that there is a 100% chance he plays this week. Those guys never get anything right.

I keep going back to Tomlin’s comments that Pickens “needs to grow up quick”. The timing of this injury sure was convenient…

Tomlin sitting Pickens would be the most unlike-Tomlin thing ever. Especially considering, Pickens is really our only consistent WR.

If anything, I could see Tomlin disciplining PIckens and Pickens pulling a "I'll show him." But even then, all George wants to do is put up stats so he can get paid. Him pissing off his HC and OC is a good way not to see the ball.

 

[pistolpete11]

I was bullish on the Steelers being able to beat the Eagles, but that takes a big hit without Pickens.

Will probably take the defense holding them to 10 points and Boz hitting 6 FGs now

 

[JTG]

Our run game has no chance against this line. I'll be really curious to see how Frazier and McCormick grade out. This is a serious test.

 

[WickedWrister]

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

well then

 

[Shockmaster]

It's odd that Pickens was considered likely to play before warm-ups on Sunday, yet now reports are saying his injury will cause him to miss 2 games.

 

[T1K]

Tomlin sitting Pickens would be the most unlike-Tomlin thing ever. Especially considering, Pickens is really our only consistent WR.

If anything, I could see Tomlin disciplining PIckens and Pickens pulling a "I'll show him." But even then, all George wants to do is put up stats so he can get paid. Him pissing off his HC and OC is a good way not to see the ball.

Pickens is a polarizing personality so I think disciplining him like this may be the only way to get through to him. I agree it’s far more likely he is actually injured, but I find it funny how they are still leaving the door open for him to play this week. This stretch of 3 games in 11 days is surely a factor as well, but time will tell.

If he actually has a grade 2 hammy injury, he’d be a IR candidate. Nico Collins missed 5 weeks with a similar injury.

 

[Peat]

Tomlin says that they thought Pickens was fine until game day, held him out due to abundance of caution, did an MRI after the game and learned the strain was worse than they thought. Outside chance of him playing Eagles.

Tomlin: George Pickens' Hamstring Injury 'Bit More Significant' Than Initially Thought

Various insiders have reported on George Pickens’ hamstring injury over the last 24 hours, but now Mike Tomlin has offered an update of the star wide receiver’s status for this week and his health in general. The fact that he nearly played against the Cleveland Browns made many think it was a...

steelersdepot.com

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Tomlin says that they thought Pickens was fine until game day, held him out due to abundance of caution, did an MRI after the game and learned the strain was worse than they thought. Outside chance of him playing Eagles.

Tomlin: George Pickens' Hamstring Injury 'Bit More Significant' Than Initially Thought

Various insiders have reported on George Pickens’ hamstring injury over the last 24 hours, but now Mike Tomlin has offered an update of the star wide receiver’s status for this week and his health in general. The fact that he nearly played against the Cleveland Browns made many think it was a...

steelersdepot.com

That's not very nefarious or surreptitious.

 

[TooManyHumans]

But even then, all George wants to do is put up stats so he can get paid. Him pissing off his HC and OC is a good way not to see the ball.

Quibbling here but I don't think Pickens' only motivation is to get paid. Dude is a competitor and wants to play and dominant because of that. If all he cared about were getting paid, he would have an easier time avoiding the dumb penalties that do nothing but make him more likely to not get paid.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I will be very curious on how the offense does without Pickens this week. They were horrific early last week, but then we started humming with Warren, using the middle of the field and throwing a couple 50/50 balls to Williams.

Without a doubt, the Steelers need an elite receiver heading into next year. But it is possible that this guy just has a time limit and we need to know when to walk away

 

[Peat]

Honestly I think George's main motivation is just to be himself, which is to be a mix of chill goofy slacker and demonically competitive, super respected, big dog receiver. That seems to matter more than the money and the numbers and everything else.

 

[JTG]

Pickens is a polarizing personality so I think disciplining him like this may be the only way to get through to him. I agree it’s far more likely he is actually injured, but I find it funny how they are still leaving the door open for him to play this week. This stretch of 3 games in 11 days is surely a factor as well, but time will tell.

If he actually has a grade 2 hammy injury, he’d be a IR candidate. Nico Collins missed 5 weeks with a similar injury.

Quibbling here but I don't think Pickens' only motivation is to get paid. Dude is a competitor and wants to play and dominant because of that. If all he cared about were getting paid, he would have an easier time avoiding the dumb penalties that do nothing but make him more likely to not get paid.

I think Pickens wants to be on the field and he wants the ball, but I also think he wants to make his bag. He has already said he wants to be a top 5. Pickens is the same situation as AB when Ryan Clark said how bad of an idea it was to give him that kind of money. I truly do think Pickens is a top 5 receiver, but one really has to wonder what kind of guy he is, versus flipping him before he becomes THE problem.

Only reason I'd say his motivation maybe leans more towards getting paid if because he does take plays off, he has given up on plays, and he has taken insane penalties that hurt the team. But with that being said, Pickens doesn't offend me one way or another aside from this immaturity issue that Tomlin is very clearly over at this point.

I think Pickens plays hurt a lot, he tweaked his hammy on Friday, slept it off, woke up Saturday, probably tried to work it out and realized it was way weaker than he thought it would be. He told the trainers and they had a decision of immediately sitting him and start the healing process for it not to be an issue, or for him to inevitably tear it before the playoffs and be out totally. It was a no-win when you think about it.

Austin has a massive opportunity here and where the f*** is Roman Wilson? I get the "it's hard to jump on a moving train" thing, but for the love of God...

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

CFB stuff, but it would be weird to see Belicheck coaching college ball . He's rumored to the UNC job

 

[Peat]

Austin has a massive opportunity here and where the f*** is Roman Wilson? I get the "it's hard to jump on a moving train" thing, but for the love of God...

I doubt Wilson gets activated from his second bout of IR this season.

Also re Pickens... he is what he is at this point. I'm 60-40 in favour of not paying him. I'd be more in favour if I thought you could get a strong trade return but I don't think that's happening for a guy who's managed to publicly exasperate Tomlin. I fully believe in Tomlin's rep as an incredible man manager and that other teams simply won't be interested in paying good price for a guy even he can barely control.

Huge shame. The talent is outstanding.

 

[JTG]

I doubt Wilson gets activated from his second bout of IR this season.

Also re Pickens... he is what he is at this point. I'm 60-40 in favour of not paying him. I'd be more in favour if I thought you could get a strong trade return but I don't think that's happening for a guy who's managed to publicly exasperate Tomlin. I fully believe in Tomlin's rep as an incredible man manager and that other teams simply won't be interested in paying good price for a guy even he can barely control.

Huge shame. The talent is outstanding.

I think the Kansas City Chiefs would pay a good price for him. KC is the best spot for Pickens. It gives him everything he wants...gives the team everything they want.

 

[Peat]

I think the Kansas City Chiefs would pay a good price for him. KC is the best spot for Pickens. It gives him everything he wants...gives the team everything they want.

I just can't see that as the NFL can't give Pickens what he wants - his desire to live without discipline or consequences is just not going to fly problem free in that job - and smart teams should be unwilling to give up good prices for guys like that because they're never going to give the team the reliability and leadership they want.

Those goes double when the guy's contract is up for renewal.

I'm sure they'd take him for fee, or hand him a 10m 1 year prove it contract after his rookie contract if nobody else is giving him any better, but handing over a good price so they can screw up their cap structure? Don't see it. I'd be stunned. That's dumbarse Raiders or Browns shit.