Despite no longer being a part of the team, George Pickens is still frustrating fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pickens, the talented-but-temperamental receiver traded to the Dallas Cowboys May 7, long ago agreed to host a youth football camp this summer in Pittsburgh. Immediately after the trade, organizers of his George Pickens Youth Football Camp say they reached out to him to confirm his attendance despite no longer playing for the Steelers.
The company, TruEdge, says "we were promptly assured that George remained committed to the camp and intended to show up for the families that registered."
But recently - last week, in fact - that changed. The camp was scheduled for Saturday at Highmark Stadium, but Pickens is backing out. The decision has left TruEdge mad, and scrambling t o save the event.
"We have been notified that George has walked back on his word," TruEdge said in an email to those registered for the camp. The company continues that it is "deeply frustrated" about the "sudden decision" and about Pickens' "disappointing lack of accountability disregard for families and children."
The company also organizes summer camps for NFL players Tyrone Tracy of the New York Giants and Calvin Ridley of the Tennessee Titans.
In response to Pickens' decision, TruEdge has rescheduled the camp for July 20 and recruited Steelers' tight end Pat Freiermuth to host the event.
The Steelers essentially gave up on Pickens' petulant behavior and controversial decision-making, instead choosing to have new quarterback Aaron Rodgers throw passes to receiver DK Metcalf.
For a player already dealing with a reputation of being selfish and narcissistic, this is a bad look.
But, as usual during the course of his three-year career in Pittsburgh, Pickens' actions are prompting polar opposite reactions amongst Steelers fans. Some are supporting him for canceling his appearance because the Steelers traded him, even though the camp is not affiliated with the team. Others seem to be happy that Pickens is now the Cowboys' headache.
"He doesn’t owe Pittsburgh (bleep) really," wrote one commenter in response to TruEdge's email "He carried us. He was the entire offense and never had help. (Bleeping) joke that they would ask him to come after WE traded HIM."
Added another, "To be honest if I got shipped out of the city I wouldn’t want to come back either."
Again, it was Pickens' youth camp. Not the Steelers'.
"Is that really surprising?" wrote one fan. "If he stayed in Pittsburgh another couple years he would have easily passed Antonio Brown as biggest pain the Steelers have ever had to deal with."
Said another, "That’s bad and a completely expected outcome. If I organized a youth camp, GP, who routinely displayed his bad habits on the field, would be the last person I’d make my marquee guest."
