U mad, bro?: George Pickens' outburst, Mike Tomlin-fan video, Kasperi Kapanen have Steelers, Penguins fans on tilt

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers getting a second straight win for the first time all year, the temperature is hot in Steelers Nation.

Lots of folks are taking heat. George Pickens. Mike Tomlin. Diontae Johnson.

Me!

Even Kasperi Kapanen of the Penguins is getting dragged. And he just had his best game in years.

No one is safe in this week’s “U mad, bro?”

Anthony didn’t like the clip of Mike Tomlin barking a curse word at a fan who was taking a video of him on Sunday in Atlanta.

“I am sure you saw the clip … from a fan, apparently in an airport, giving Tomlin a thumbs up and cheering him on a bit … then Tomlin cusses the fan. Why is NOBODY talking about Tomlin’s unprofessional, embarrassing behavior. How disrespectful to the Rooney family! He is the face of the franchise, does that and totally gets a pass?

I’ve never been on the ‘fire Tomlin’ bandwagon. But I just hopped on that wagon.

So why is the press totally silent on that video? Has the press colluded to protect Tomlin?”

Well, Anthony, it wasn’t “at an airport.” It was in the stadium during halftime of the game against Atlanta. Hence the “I’m *bleepin’* working” line from Tomlin.

What did you think he meant by that? Did you think that Tomlin worked part-time as a pilot or a gate attendant at Hartsfield International or something?

Also, I’m not quite sure how he disrespected the “Rooney family.” It looks like the guy who posted the video is named “Fernando Perez.” Are you assuming he is a long-lost Rooney cousin, perhaps?

And as far as the media colluding to protect Tomlin, if my “I don’t give a bleep” factor is in lock step with his “I’m ‘bleepin’ working” factor, then, yes, I’m guilty of collusion.

Feel free to dock Tomlin and me a draft pick each.

Seriously, though, I didn’t get why Tomlin bothered to even acknowledge the fan or respond in that way, either. But if Tomlin has fatigue over fans with phones, constantly seeking acknowledgement and content for their TikTok feeds, then I can’t say that I blame him.

More sports

• Steelers, Kenny Pickett cut down on sacks just in time to face Ravens defense
• Penguins forward Bryan Rust is finding the net again
• Pirates select LHP Jose Hernandez from Dodgers, lose C/OF Blake Sabol in Rule 5 Draft

This guy isn’t happy with how the Steelers receivers performed in Atlanta on Sunday.

Receivers didn't help Pickett. Droppy Drop and Sour Puss did him no favors.

— Mr.PGH (@PGHLivin) December 5, 2022

Just out of curiosity, what nicknames did you have for Limas Sweed and Donte Moncrief?

I think Tomlin handled George Pickens’ sideline outburst during the win in Atlanta poorly. I think he put more blame on the media for talking about it than on Pickens for doing it in the first place. Harold seems to disagree.

I heard you on the radio talking about this. You’re comparing Pickens (a young rookie) to D. Johnson and AB’s actions, that’s a HUGE different level of maturity. Could he have handled it differently? Yes. Were we always mature at that young age? No. Mountain meet molehill.

— 72Harold (@HaroldLeavy) December 7, 2022

Part of maturation is having someone call you out when you do something wrong. Not coddle you and blame shift.

To your second point, if you want to do comps, how about comparing the quarterbacks that have to deal with the wide receiver complaints and balance forcing them the ball to keep them happy, while also trying to make sound decisions.

Johnson and Pickens are yammering in the ear of Kenny Pickett. He is a rookie. Ben Roethlisberger was a 13-year vet when Antonio Brown started throwing water coolers in 2017.

Consider that angle. It’s the most important one.

This guy didn’t like the column I wrote about Pickens.

Yeah you could've left this one on your computer lil bro

— Lord Flvcko X Brian (@The_icon21) December 7, 2022

And you could’ve left this tweet in your drafts on your phone.

R.R. is taking the Pickens situation to another level.

“Tomlin’s response to Pickens’ sideline venting was completely inappropriate. Tomlin is labeling it as acceptable when it indicates a deeper issue. Could that issue be the offensive coordinator?”

If I’m reading this correctly, what you are suggesting is that Tomlin was accepting of Pickens’ behavior because he thinks Pickens is right to be mad over Canada not drawing up enough plays to get him the ball.

Look, I’m all for criticizing Canada for … anything. However, maybe Pickens was just acting like a punk, and it’s no deeper than that.

But your conspiratorial, extra layer of the onion approach just to blame Canada for the heck of it is oddly admirable.

Randy wants to add something to the Pickens conversation.

“Good article, I think you make some valid points. However, I would point out that what Tomlin says to the press isn’t necessarily the same that he says behind the scenes. For all we know, he chewed out Pickens royally behind closed doors. Tomlin is protecting his players in the press, i.e., ‘not airing the dirty laundry in public.’”

The thing is, Randy, the dirty laundry was already aired.

In front of the whole team, tens of thousands of people in the stadium and millions watching at home. And it was Pickens doing the airing.

My hunch is Tomlin was a bit more stern with Pickens behind closed doors. But you saw Pickens’ media interactions the next day, right?

Did he look like a guy to you that felt like he had been knocked down a peg by his coach? Or had learned some sort of lesson, or had an epiphany about why what he did was wrong?

Because he sure didn’t to me. That looked like a guy who was enabled or maybe even emboldened by his coach’s actions.

Finally, Sbeall68 emailed in the middle of Kasperi Kapanen’s hat trick on Saturday against St. Louis.

“Even as I was typing about Kapanen being a worthless signing I knew he’d do something to redeem himself. Good for him. That’s typically what happens. Now they need to trade him ASAP while he’s trending up.”

OK. But then who would star in those totally awesome, completely professionally produced, not at all locally schlocky “Get Go” commercials?

Time to bring Max Talbot out of retirement. “Superstar treatment!”

This week’s podcast with Tim Benz and TribLIVE Steelers beat writer Joe Rutter takes a look at Steelers vs. Ravens, George Pickens, T.J. Watt, and Najee Harris.

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter talk Steelers-Ravens