George Pickens gives Browns all the fuel needed to sweep the Steelers in 2024

George Pickens is at it again. Over his first two years in the NFL, nothing good has come from putting the talented receiver in front of the Steelers' media. That proved to be true once again.

The Steelers are preparing to host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday for Week 14. The last time these teams met in Week 12, ended in a Browns win in blizzard-like conditions on Thursday Night Football. On the final play of the game, Pickens seemed more interested in wrestling cornerback Greg Newsome to the ground than making a play on the football.

Pickens was asked if he thinks he will talk to Newsome before the game, and like only he can, the young receiver gave the worst response possible.

"I don't even know who that is," Pickens told the media, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

A closing remark like this wasn't about to stay undercover for long. The word of Pickens' comments quickly spread to the Browns' locker room.

Newsome gave a response to what Pickens' had to say.

"I'm all about the team," Newsome said. "Obviously, he's a guy who cares more about himself. You can see that in the penalties he causes... He does that type of stuff all the time."

Sadly, there's a lot of truth to Newsome's comments regarding Pickens. This is not Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers need to deal with right now.

George Pickens needs to put the Steelers first

I don't care how Pickens feels about the Cleveland Browns or any cornerback matchup in the league. Regardless of whether he knows who Greg Newsome is, there was zero reason to give the Browns fuel to sweep the Steelers this year.

Pickens' forgettable game in Cleveland no doubt led to his frustrations on the field. Against the Browns in Week 12, the Steelers wide receiver reeled in just four of seven targets for 48 yards. In Week 13 against the Bengals, Pickens made fans want to pull their hair out after committing a pair of personal fouls.

When faced with a question like this, Pickens needs to think about his team first. He should admit that the Steelers (himself included) didn't do enough to win the first time around and that they need to step it up.

At 3-9, the Browns are hanging on by a thread. But this team beat the Steelers once already this year. Why add fuel to the fire for a team that has nothing to play for except sticking it to a hated AFC North rival?

I can guarantee you nobody in the Steelers' locker room wanted Pickens to respond to that question the way he did. It's time for the third-year receiver to grow up and put the team over himself.