From ‘I don’t even know who that is,’ to ‘I don’t care about the dude at all,’ Steelers’ Pickens spawns war of words with Browns

During his brief weekly media availability last week, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens answered questions related to the previous week’s game against the Cleveland Browns by invoking that infamous Marshawn Lynch line, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

With the Browns again on the schedule this week, Pickens couldn’t lean on the looking-ahead-and-not-back crutch when he spoke with reporters Friday.

So, Pickens delivered some precise daggers aimed about two hours to the northwest.

When word quickly spread to the Browns headquarters in Berea, Ohio, the Browns shot right back.

It was that kind of afternoon Friday, the type that adds more spice to one of the NFL’s longest-standing rivalries in advance of Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Browns.

Fifteen days after Pickens said in the aftermath of a 24-19 defeat to the Browns in Cleveland, “I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all,” Pickens took a pragmatic approach to doubling down.

“I just go by the record,” he said.

At 3-9, Cleveland will be eliminated from playoff contention after its next loss.

But does Pickens worry his comments will motivate the Browns to beat the Steelers (9-3) again?

“Uh, I don’t know what motivates them,” Pickens said. “I am just focused on what we can do.

“I am not focused on them.”

Fair enough. But it was during that Nov. 21 meeting in the snow at Huntington Bank Field that Pickens appeared to be preoccupied with what Browns cornerback Greg Newsome was doing rather than making an attempt at a desperation Hail Mary pass into the end zone as time was expiring.

Pickens tussled with Newsome as the ball was in the air and was engaged with him out of the back of the end zone and into the first row of seats as the ball fell incomplete and the game ended.

Newsome after that game posted to his X account, “Fake tough guy.”

Pickens surely had to be made aware of that. But in a move that evoked a true heel turn by top-flight professional wrestlers, Pickens had a response ready when asked if he intended to approach or speak to Newsome before Sunday’s game.

“I don’t even know who that is.”

Less than 40 minutes after Pickens said that, Newsome again took to social media in response, sharing a screenshot of a May 2019 direct message Pickens sent to Newsome about four months before Pickens began his freshman season at the University of Georgia.

Newsome accompanied the screenshot with emojis of a laugh and of a clown.

???????? https://t.co/ET5ObZNVjV pic.twitter.com/027W1zMoKF

— Greg Newsome II (@gnewsii) December 6, 2024

Newsome was even more pointed in his comments to media in Cleveland.

“I am all about the team,” Newsome on Friday told reporters who cover the Browns. “Obviously, he’s a guy who cares more about himself, and you can see that in the penalties that he causes.”

Pickens was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct during this past Sunday’s win at the Cincinnati Bengals.

To that end, Pickens on Friday echoed what he said after the game — that it was the officials who were to blame for the flags thrown on him.

“I am out here making plays and doing the same celebrations that every other receiver is doing, so I am not sure,” Pickens said at one point Friday.

Moments later, he added: “That comes from playing hard. When you’re playing hard, the league has a target on your back, you possibly — I am not saying 100% — but you possibly can get flags.”

Newsome, meanwhile, wasn’t finished. Pressed by reporters for reaction to Pickens’ thinly veiled disparagement, Newsome said he wouldn’t allow it to carry over to the field Sunday.

“I’m an ultimate professional, so it’s easy for me,” Newsome said. “A guy like him, it’s obviously hard. That (pushing/shoving incident) happened (in) our game. He got two more penalties the next game. So, that’s just a trend that he does. But me, I am a professional so I would never let somebody make me do something that would hurt my football team.”

Multiple times, Newsome dismissed Pickens’ comments.

“I don’t take it as disrespectful,” Newsome said, “because I don’t care about the dude at all.”

It’s become routine for Pickens to be at the center of attention or embroiled in controversy after or in advance of a game. On top of everything else Friday, Pickens was added to the status report because of a hamstring injury apparently suffered Friday. He is listed as questionable to play Sunday.

Pickens, who never has missed a game in his three-year NFL career, was asked if he feels opponents and officials have placed a target on his back.

“I don’t know,” Pickens said. “I hope not. I’m just out here playing like any other receiver.”