Pickens Avoids Huge Fine

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens avoided any fines in his altercation with Cleveland Browns defensive back Greg Newsome on the final play of the team’s 24-19 loss last Thursday. Instead, Pickens and Newsome each did not get fined for the melee, and the NFL review found no wrongdoing.

However, other Steelers were fined, including Donte Jackson and Damontae Kazee for unnecessary roughness and usage of the helmet, respectively. Browns safety Grant Delpit was also fined for snatching Pickens' mouthpiece off his helmet and hurling it into the stands.

Newsome called out Pickens as a ‘fake tough guy’ following the game, while Pickens said ‘nothing’ happened on the play. Pickens declined to comment during a press conference on Friday.

The NFL never reviewed the play for suspensions, but they found nothing that even rose to the level of fines. Head coach Mike Tomlin said that Pickens was the ‘point man’ on the play, in other words, the play that would go up and high point the football, but Newsome pushed him out of the end zone.

The Steelers and Browns will meet on December 8th in a rematch at Acrisure Stadium. Both Pickens and Newsome have that game circled on their calendars.