Steelers wide receiver George Pickens claimed ignorance of the NFL policy prohibiting display of personal messages without league approval as he awaits a potential fine for the expletive etched in his eye black last Sunday night.
Pickens added Thursday he hasn’t received a message or certified mail — official word from the NFL of an incoming fine — in response to his eye black reading “Open F–ing Always” in the Steelers’ loss to the Cowboys.
“Never seen it before,” Pickens said Thursday. “Have you seen it before?”
The Steelers have seen it before. Defensive end Cam Heyward was fined for writing a tribute to his father, the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward,” in his eye black in 2015.
Drafted in 2022, Pickens turned 23 in March and was in eighth grade in 2015.
Playing time was a topic Pickens said would need to be discussed with coaches. Specifically, he pointed to first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the person who could answer questions about using Pickens for a career-low 34 snaps against the Cowboys.
“It’s not on me,” he said. “It’s all up to Art.”
Pickens leads the Steelers with 23 receptions and 36 targets in five games this season. Smith said he understands the topic arose because of a loss, but stressed the strategy of trying to beat the Cowboys — or any other team — is never about one player. He had specific memories of limiting the role of other prominent players in previous coaching stints.
“You’re going into any game plan, certain players and how we package things you’re trying to maximize snaps,” Smith said. “Different lifetime, but certainly done it with other premium players. Done it with Derrick Henry. He wanted to be out there to play, and he wasn’t out there in all the third downs and he got plenty of touches. Did it with A.J. Brown, early, certain things and trying to mix and match and maximize things or set things up. (Pickens) is still, I believe, depending on what metric you’re using, seventh in targets in passing downs or passing opportunities in the league.”