The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a tough 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, and the game ended with a physical altercation between Steelers wide receiver George Pickens and Browns cornerback Greg Newsome. As the clock wound down and a Hail Mary attempt was batted away, Pickens was seen grabbing and pulling Newsome through the back of the end zone, leading to a brief scuffle between the two players after the game concluded.
Pickens, known for his fiery demeanor, was restrained before the situation escalated further, while other players met at midfield for the traditional post-game handshake. This outburst is just the latest in a series of controversial actions for Pickens, who has sometimes been a distraction for the Steelers despite his undeniable talent as their top receiver.
After the game, Pickens dismissed the Browns’ victory, attributing their success to weather conditions rather than the Browns’ performance. “I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all,” Pickens stated, per Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.
Newsome, not one to let the incident slide, fired back on social media, calling Pickens a “fake tough guy.”
Pickens finished the game with four catches for 48 yards on seven targets.