Clown behavior.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens gave the Cincinnati Bengals fits Sunday, catching three passes for 74 yards and a touchdown to help send Cincy to 4-8 on the season, but he also made a fool of himself.
In the win, Pickens committed two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
He first was flagged for taunting after dropping the football on Bengals’ linebacker Germaine Pratt after picking up a first down.
Good: Pickens great catch for 1st down.
Bad: Takes dumbass taunting penalty at the end of the play.
Great: Broderick Jones grabs Pickens and tells him to get his head out of his ass. pic.twitter.com/X9xsakwYJY
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 1, 2024
Then, he was flagged for firing finger guns at the crowd.
George Pickens called for unsportsmanlike conduct, not ejected pic.twitter.com/od0I4zuTcM
— Cincinnati (@CincyProblems) December 1, 2024
Despite picking up a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, Pickens was not ejected from Sunday’s game.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio laid out why:
“Three specific portions of the unsportsmanlike conduct rule land within the category of two-and-out,” Florio wrote. “(a) throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made. (b) using abusive, threatening, or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials, or representatives of the League; and (c) using baiting or taunting acts or words that may engender ill will between teams.
Part (d) — any violent gesture, or an act that is sexually suggestive or offensive — is not within the range of fouls that can lead to an ejection.
For the first foul, Pickens engaged in taunting. For the second, he fired finger guns toward the crowd. Foul, but not the kind that can result in an ejection.”
Regardless, clown behavior from Pickens.
