Tag: altercation

George Pickens clashes with Steelers fans in frustrating Week 18 loss

George Pickens fires back at Steelers fans with trash talk after Week 18 loss, adding fuel to an already tense playoff atmosphere.

George Pickens appears to be one of the most disliked and disgruntled Steelers players in Pittsburgh right now, and it isn’t just for his poor Week 18 performance.

Fans of the Black and Gold are among the most outspoken and passionate in the NFL, and Pickens seems to have taken exception to their anger following the team’s Week 18 loss.

In what can only be described as the perfect storm—Steelers fans’ passion colliding with Pickens’ immaturity—viewers of the Week 18 AFC North contest between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati witnessed the Steelers receiver engaging in a heated exchange with fans in attendance.

While it may have seemed innocent enough at first glance, nothing involving Pickens ever is. The last thing the Pittsburgh Steelers need after their disappointing Week 18 loss is further distractions heading into the playoffs.

Pickens has shown inconsistency and immaturity in his decisions throughout this season, leaving his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers uncertain as the team approaches 2025.

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Darren Rizzi explains sideline altercation with Matthew Hayball, Alvin Kamara

Saints coach Darren Rizzi explained what led to a sideline altercation involving Matthew Hayball and Alvin Kamara during their game with the Giants:

Darren Rizzi and Matthew Hayball were embroiled in a sideline altercation that was impossible to miss on Sunday, as the New Orleans Saints interim head coach slammed his punter for what he deemed to be a poor performance up to that point. The FOX broadcast caught Rizzi ripping into his punter after a kick was returned for a touchdown by the New York Giants, though it was negated by penalty.

Some may have referred to it as a moment of passion, if you will.

“That’s what you’re calling it, a passionate exchange?” Rizzi laughed when speaking with reporters after the game. “I’m passionate about everything. Everybody has a job to do. And he wasn’t executing the game plan. I’m going to say this. His last punt, his last two.”

It was not all bad in the eyes of Rizzi, though.

“His last punt was outstanding and it really helped us,” Rizzi said. “Actually, I think has last two punts, the second to last punt in particular, was really, really good.”

Hayball’s effort there accomplished something the Saints had been trying to do all game long. Rizzi continued: “Pinned them back, didn’t get any return yards, that’s what we were trying to do all day. Our first three punts weren’t good enough, so in that passionate exchange, I let him know that’s exactly how I felt.”

All is well though. Rizzi added, “Me and Matt are fine.”

The coach said Kamara was playing peacemaker and showed good leadership by stepping in to help keep Rizzi his cool.

“I love AK,” Rizzi said. “AK is a guy that sees everything and is very observant. You guys who have followed AK know he’s a little bit of lay in the weeds guy… he was just trying to be a peacemaker there.”

Kamara had some words to try to get Rizzi to slow his roll a little bit on Hayball.

“He came back around and said, ‘Riz man, I didn’t know you could lose your (expletive) on a punter like that.’ He was just trying to calm me down,” Rizzi said.

Hayball punted seven times for 292 yards, but just two of them landed inside the 20-yard line. He’ll look to tune that up as the Saints face the Las Vegas Raiders up next on the schedule.

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Browns CB Greg Newsome II takes shots at Steelers WR George Pickens ahead of Week 14 rematch

Greg Newsome II calls out George Pickens for the receiver’s selfish play ahead of the Steelers-Browns Week 14 matchup.

The bad blood between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns in Week 14 appears to be starting early, as Browns CB Greg Newsome II held nothing back when discussing his potential matchup with Steelers WR George Pickens.

Week 14 will mark the second meeting between Newsome and Pickens, with their first WR-CB matchup being marred by the chaotic fight that followed the Steelers’ failed Hail Mary attempt in Week 12.

Newsome claimed that Pickens is so focused on himself that he’s willing to jeopardize the Steelers. He argued that anyone who disagrees need only look at the wide receiver’s recent penalties caused by his immature outbursts.

Pickens will need to keep his composure in Week 14’s matchup against the Browns. With his recent in-game implosions and immature antics, teams are likely to focus on pushing him to snap. Fans can watch all the drama and action unfold when the Steelers take on the Browns on December 8 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Cleveland photographer brings new life to George Pickens-Greg Newsome altercation

Cleveland.com’s photographer Joshua Gunter provided a close-up look at the altercation between George Pickens and Greg Newsome in Week 12.

For Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens, when it rains, it pours. Much criticism and blame have been placed on the wide receiver—not only for his lack of effort on the final Hail Mary pass from QB Russell Wilson but also for a potential NFL investigation into his fight with Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome II.

Just as news surrounding the situation began to die down, an interesting and unique perspective from Cleveland.com sideline photographer Joshua Gunter surfaced, offering an up-close and personal look at the altercation.

While Gunter’s ability to continue taking photos after being caught in the skirmish is admirable, the truly remarkable takeaway is his close-up compilation of what took place between Pickens and Newsome:

The video appears to showcase Pickens’ innocence in the altercation’s aftermath, suggesting that Newsome was holding his helmet down while Pickens was trying to free himself. While Newsome claimed Pickens was a “fake tough guy,” it seems the only “fake” aspect of this altercation was Newsome’s complete blame of Pickens.

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Browns CB takes shots at George Pickens following post-game antics

Browns CB Greg Newsome II had choice words for George Pickens following their physical altercation in Week 12.

Fans of the Steel City, while upset that the Pittsburgh Steelers were ultimately defeated in Week 12’s Thursday Night Football matchup, were almost treated to a second contest following the game: a potentially major physical altercation between Steelers WR George Pickens and Browns CB Greg Newsome II.

Following the failed Hail Mary attempt that sealed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defeat, Pickens showcased his best MMA impression, trying to take Newsome down. During the skirmish, Pickens was seen ripping at Newsome’s face mask and attempting to ram him into the stands before they were restrained by security.

After the Week 12 contest, Newsome spoke to reporters about Pickens: “Fake tough guy. Yeah, he does a lot of that. The antics and stuff. He didn’t even go up for the ball, he was just tryna do WrestleMania with me the whole time.” Newsome continued his commentary on social media.

Pickens is no stranger to these types of conflicts or immature outbursts, but fans have to wonder how much longer Head Coach Mike Tomlin will tolerate these less-than-ideal distractions.

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Saints aren’t eager to explain in-game squabble between Derek Carr, Erik McCoy

The Saints are brushing off a squabble between Derek Carr and Erik McCoy. Dennis Allen says he ‘wouldn’t read too much into’ the heated altercation:

A lot happened in the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — both good and bad. But nothing caught fans’ attention more than the late-game altercation between quarterback Derek Carr and center Erik McCoy.

Carr picked himself up off the ground in a fury after being sacked by Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, who beat right guard Cesar Ruiz to bowl Carr over as he dropped back to pass. Carr took aim at McCoy after the play, who responded in kind, and the pair had to be separated. Left guard James Hurst walled off McCoy as they returned to the sideline where backup quarterback Jameis Winston corralled Carr.

Other veterans on the team like running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. bridged the gap, and the pair eventually hashed things out together on the bench. The offense rallied to close out a 28-6 win. But there were few people in the locker room willing to discuss the incident after the game, including head coach Dennis Allen.

“These kinds of things happen on the field. I’m glad that both of them had the balls to stand up and fight,” Allen said after the game. “Guys, they get pissed. Sometimes things get emotional. I wouldn’t read too much into it. We addressed it. Let’s move on.”

Dustups do happen in pro football, but it’s unusual to see a franchise quarterback going back and forth like this with his center. The two players who touch the football on every single play should be in sync, and they clearly weren’t. Whether Carr misidentified the middle linebacker to set protection before the snap or McCoy failed to help Ruiz pick up the blitz is unclear, and they’re all more interested in moving forward than dwelling on it.

Both McCoy and Carr brushed over the issue after the game, reiterating Allen’s point that these things happen, they’re good now, and there are no divisions splitting the locker room apart (WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak shared transcripts from their postgame media availability here if you’d like to read full comments). So we aren’t likely to get any real resolution on the record any time soon.

Still: it’s near-impossible to watch this team each week, pay attention when guys are speaking on camera and into microphones, and not come away feeling that something isn’t right. Players and coaches and front office executives are not in lockstep and that discord is reflected in their losing record. Hopefully they can mend fences, build on this win, and work towards a run at the NFC South crown. There’s too much invested in these players and this coaching staff to settle for less.

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