Steelers WR George Pickens Expected to Face NFL Punishment After Controversial TNF Ending

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had a rough ending to his team's 24-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, and could soon end up paying for it.

Pickens got into a scuffle with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during a final Hail Mary attempt from the Steelers that fell incomplete, with game officials and stadium security needing to step in to break it up.

Pickens could likely be in line for punishment from the NFL, which has explicit rules against fighting during games and lists $39,501 as a fine for a first offense. Though neither Pickens nor Newsome were flagged on the play, the league regularly goes back and issues punishment for actions that didn't catch the attention of officials.

The Steelers wide receiver could also face a potential fine from his postgame comments criticizing officials, saying they missed a pass interference penalty on Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. during a third-down pass attempt in the fourth quarter.

"That's what I'm saying," Pickens told reporters after the game, via ESPN. "The conditions and away game refs."

Pickens said he believed the Steelers were the better team, but the Browns benefited from the calls and sloppy field conditions as snow began to rapidly accumulate throughout the game.

"Conditions played a huge, huge part in today's game," Pickens said. "I don't really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today."

Pickens said the heavy snowfall was a contributing factor on a potential touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson that sailed incomplete.

"The snow, the conditions were so bad," he said. "I don't even think the QB could see sometimes. And when you got conditions like that, at the opponents' home field, it kind of plays in their favor."

George Pickens fighting Greg Newsome during the Hail Mary LMFAO pic.twitter.com/1QT1sN1w5o

— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) November 22, 2024

Pickens was also on the receiving end of a play that could lead to a fine for the Browns. Safety Grant Delpit was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the game for snatching Pickens' mouthpiece off his helmet and throwing it to the ground.