The clock might be ticking on pregame TikTok dances by JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he plans to speak with Smith-Schuster about the social-media videos Smith-Schuster is having filmed from the midfield logo of recent games. The dance moves have caught the ire of some opposing players recently, which in turn has caught the attention of some Steelers fans irked by the team’s three-game losing streak.
Tomlin did not openly criticize Smith-Schuster for filming the short videos and posting them publicly, and Tomlin downplayed its effect on the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals during their wins against the Steelers the past two weeks. But Tomlin did say “it is about respect,” perhaps acknowledging the feelings of the Bills’ Jordan Poyer and Bengals’ Vonn Bell who referenced Smith-Schuster’s dances on their teams’ logos as motivation.
“I am aware of it,” Tomlin said of the dances, “and I do plan to talk to JuJu.”
After the Bills beat the Steelers, 26-15, on Dec. 13, Buffalo safety Poyer told reporters: “Seeing them dance on our logo pregame, that turned you up a little bit. It kind of gives you a little second itch to come out and play with some extra fire.”
Days later in advance of the Steelers’ game in Cincinnati, Bell said Smith-Schuster’s antics were “kind of disrespectful.” Then, during the game and after Smith-Schuster performed on the 50-yard line at Paul Brown Stadium, Bell hit Smith-Schuster hard enough it jarred a ball loose and created a turnover that helped the Bengals build a 17-0 lead en route to a 27-17 win.
Asked after the game what he saw on that play, Bell grinned and laughed while saying, “I seen ’19.’”
Nineteen is Smith-Schuster’s uniform number.
“I’m not a boastful guy, man,” Bell added, according to The Athletic. “I just go out there and let my play do the talking.”
Smith-Schuster said last week he would keep doing the taped dances, adding, “I’m not going to stop being myself.”
JuJu on BillsLogoDance-gate and the controversy from the Buffalo players being mad about it.
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) December 16, 2020
Says he’s not gonna stop doing that pregame on TikTok
(with special appearance by @dlolley_pgh face) pic.twitter.com/jFTvaCyTRi
Tomlin on Tuesday seemed to brush off that the Bengals or Bills derived any tangible benefit from any incredulity about Smith-Schuster’s pregame ritual.
“We are professionals,” Tomlin said. “I doubt any of those antics and things of that nature are legitimate motivating factors as you step into professional stadiums, but it is about respect. We’ll have a conversation, but I understand it is about the quality of play inside the white lines. I’m not seeking comfort or looking for excuses based on our recent performances on things that occur pregame or things of that nature that are social media related.”
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