First Call: Ex-NFL, Pitt player calls out George Pickens' effort; Pat Freiermuth owns bad play vs. Colts

If Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens thinks that only non-athlete media types are criticizing his lack of effort, then he is sorely mistaken.

Pat Freiermuth is taking the blame for a bad play in the Steelers’ most recent loss. The officiating crew has been revealed for this week’s Steelers-Bengals game. So has the first injury report.

And we look at the mega-contract a former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher has signed. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

So much for that theory

On Tuesday, George Pickens lashed out at media members for criticism of his effort in the wake of video that showed the Steelers wide receiver giving up on a block during Saturday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

#Steelers WR George Pickens shows ZERO effort in trying to block a #Colts defender with his teammate running full speed at them

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pic.twitter.com/LOJYlWndoN

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 16, 2023

He also ran himself out of a play later in the game when Colts defensive back Julian Blackmon was returning an interception.

When WDVE’s Mike Prisuta asked Pickens about the block Tuesday, Pickens blamed media members who have never played football for the viral criticism he is receiving.

Pickens on criticism of his effort: "All the people that's questioning my effort, they don't play football. They do what y'all do. Everybody that got opinions are all media, surface guys. None of them play football. It's media surface guys, guys who ain't never played the game."

— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) December 19, 2023

I am a media member who never played football on a competitive level. I criticized George Pickens’ effort. So, I’m guilty as charged.

I stand by that opinion. But, still, guilty as charged.

That said, Ben Roethlisberger played in the NFL for 18 years. He was critical of Pickens’ effort on that block during his most recent podcast. Kirk Herbstreit was a quarterback at Ohio State. He was critical of Pickens’ effort during the Thursday night Amazon Prime broadcast of the Steelers’ loss to the New England Patriots the previous week.

And “93.7 The Fan Morning Show” host Dorin Dickerson played three years in the NFL after a college career at Pitt, and on Tuesday afternoon he expressed these thoughts on social media regarding Pickens.

“Ask any former football player, and they will say his effort is dog (expletive),” Dickerson posted.

So maybe it’s not just us “media surface guys” after all.

My bad (x2)

If Pat Freiermuth is big enough to say “my bad,” then so am I.

Given that Freiermuth is about a foot taller than me, maybe that’s not the best way to set this up. But you get the point.

On Tuesday, Freiermuth took the blame for what was a hideous misfire of a pass from Mitch Trubisky to the Steelers tight end on a third down late in the second quarter. Freiermuth was wide open, and Trubisky threw it way behind him. Head coach Mike Tomlin referred to the miscue as one of the most “significant” points in the game. The Colts got the ball back and scored three plays later before the second quarter expired.

Tomlin said the team should have “converted a very makeable third down on the front side of that two-minute (warning) when we still had the ball. I think we had Freiermuth in the middle of the field versus zone defense, and we weren’t able to connect.”

I was hard on Trubisky for missing that throw. But Freiermuth said to blame him instead.

“I’ll take credit for that,” Freiermuth said. “It was bad on my end. … They were in Tampa 2. (I) Should’ve chased the MIKE (linebacker) and sat it down. Tried to do too much, so that’s on me.”

If Freiermuth says it’s on him, it’s on him. So, I suppose, my bad, Mitch.

However, are we then to believe that the two interceptions, three sacks, the throw out of bounds before Pressley Harvin’s bad punt, and two other incompletions were bad enough to get Trubisky benched for Mason Rudolph if he had no responsibility on that throw?

I guess so? Tomlin refused to ascribe any blame to either player. But he sure didn’t do anything to absolve Trubisky either.

More sports

• Pitt secures commitments from 2 more transfers: defensive end David Ojiegbe, tight end Jake Overman
• Pirates re-sign fan favorite Andrew McCutchen to 1-year, $5M deal
• Mason Rudolph earning his keep as he prepares to make long-awaited start for Steelers

Walking wounded

Freiermuth (knee) and rookie tackle Broderick Jones (ankle) were two new names added to the injury report after Tuesday’s practice in advance of Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has already been ruled out with a knee ailment. Here’s what the rest of the injury list looked like.

• G Isaac Seumalo (Shoulder) - DNP
• S Trenton Thompson (Neck) - DNP
• RB Najee Harris (Knee) - DNP
• DL Cameron Heyward (Concussion) - Limited
• QB Kenny Pickett (Ankle) - Limited
• S Elijah Riley (Ankle) - Limited

As for Cincinnati, the NFL Network has already said that star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is unlikely to go Saturday. He was listed as “DNP” on Tuesday. Here’s the rest of their report.

• RB Chase Brown (Chest) - Limited
• G Alex Cappa (Knee/Ankle) - Limited
• DL Cameron Sample (Knee) - Limited
• QB Jake Browning (Forearm) - Full
• LB Joe Bachie (Oblique) - Full
• OT Jackson Carman (Ill) - Full

Chase had four catches for 81 yards in the first matchup between the teams.

This guy again?

The “Football Zebras” website has the officiating assignments for the NFL games this weekend. Craig Wrolstad is refereeing the Steelers-Bengals game on Saturday.

If that name sounds familiar from this year, it’s probably because you remember his crew officiating the Steelers-Rams game out in Los Angeles in Week 7.

Via NFLPenalties.com, the crew called 17 total penalties in that game. Eleven of them went against the Steelers (76 yards accepted). That said, three of the penalties weren’t assessed (two declined, one offsetting).

That game also featured the debated Puka Nacua catch that went against the Steelers, Diontae Johnson’s taunt of Ahkello Witherspoon, and the controversial ball spot after a Kenny Pickett’s sneak at the two-minute warning.

That last one helped the Steelers ice the game.

Also, note that both teams were pinched for a total of five offensive holding calls in that game. The Steelers were hit for four of those last week in Indianapolis.

Wrolstad’s crew has yet to work a Bengals game this year.

Money for Tyler Gla$now

One baseball note: The Tyler Glasnow trade is now official. The terms of his contract extension are also known.

The former Pirates pitching prospect was shipped from the Tampa Bay Rays to Los Angeles with Manuel Margot in exchange for Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca.

Part of the deal was an extension for the 30-year-old right-hander. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Glasnow will get $111,562,500 over four years.

Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers

EXTENSION: $111,562,500/4. 2025-2027, player opt 2028.

$30M- 2025
$30M - 2026
$30M - 2027

Player Option 2028 for $21,562,500.

If Player declines Option, Club option for $30,000,000.

Player will donate 1% of salary per year to Club Charity.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 19, 2023

I wonder who the charity is that gets 1% of his contract per year. Think it might be the Pirates?