The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day and the final score wasn't close, with K.C. winning it 29 to 10 and clinching the number one seed in the AFC playoffs in the process. Why are we talking about this game when it was weeks ago and the Chiefs have a playoff game to focus on this weekend?
Well, because according to a report from The Athletic, Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was late to that game. The report indicated that Pickens didn't arrive at Acrisure Stadium until after the Steelers had submitted their inactive list despite head coach Mike Tomlin instructing his players to be at the stadium at least two hours before kickoff.
When did Pickens arrive, you ask? The report stated that Pickens showed up roughly an hour and 25 minutes before kickoff.
This isn't the first instance of Pickens irritating the team that drafted him. From openly criticizing the offense at the end of the Steelers' season to getting stupid flags thrown his way during a game to countless other situations, Pickens has been a constant headache for the Steelers. Could this be what pushes the organization to trade their former second-round pick?
George Pickens' latest antics could push the Steelers over the edge
The Steelers spent a second-round selection on Pickens and Chiefs fans definitely wonder what could have been had their team remained at pick 50 in the 2022 draft and taken Pickens. What ended up happening was that Kansas City swapped picks with New England, who moved up to take Tyquan Thornton.
The move bumped the Chiefs to the 54th pick, where they took Skyy Moore, and I don't think I need to discuss how badly that pick has aged. Two picks before the Chiefs took Moore, Pickens was nabbed by the Steelers.
Now it's worth noting that Pickens has been dramatic during his time in the NFL but perhaps things would have gone differently for him if he was with a team that can get him the ball AND win big games. With Pickens potentially getting traded this offseason, K.C. could have a chance to add him to their offense after all.
That being said, it's probably not going to happen. The Chiefs' wide receiver position doesn't look as bad as it once did with Xavier Worthy balling out in the second half of his rookie season and the team hopefully getting a healthy Rashee Rice back next year.
Spending the draft capital and money to bring Pickens in doesn't sound like a move that this version of the Chiefs would make but hey, you never know. Either way, the antics he pulled before squaring off against a team that would have loved to have had him on the offense could lead to him calling another city home next season.