Pittsburgh Steelers Face Scrutiny Over Player’s Eye Black Message

Pittsburgh Steelers Face Scrutiny Over Player’s Eye Black Message

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the spotlight after wide receiver George Pickens wore an explicit message on his eye black during Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. The phrase “Open F—ing Always” was written in silver and has caught the attention of the NFL, which is now reviewing the situation for a potential fine. This action may be a violation of the league’s uniform policy.

According to a league source, the NFL’s rules clearly state that players cannot wear or display personal messages unless they have received prior approval. Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 outlines this prohibition, making it clear that players need to stick to official league gear during games.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the issue, stating he was unaware of the content on Pickens’ eye black. “I don’t know what messaging you’re talking about regarding his eye black,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday. He added that he had not noticed any problem with Pickens’ effort during the game.

Pickens had a quiet night on the field, playing a career-low of just 34 snaps and later declined to speak to the media after the game. He also did not make himself available during Monday’s open locker room period.

If the NFL issues a fine, it is expected to be included in the league’s game-day accountability report, which will be published on Saturday. The league has a history of penalizing players for similar violations. In 2015, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward was fined for honoring his late father with “Iron Head” on his eye black. That same season, DeAngelo Williams and William Gay also faced fines for personal messages and expressions of support on their equipment.

As the NFL continues to uphold its uniform policies, it remains to be seen how George Pickens will fare in this situation and what implications it may have for him and the Steelers moving forward.