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Browns CB Greg Newsome II calls Steelers WR George Pickens 'fake tough guy' after scuffle
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- Browns CB Greg Newsome II calls Steelers WR George Pickens 'fake tough guy' after scuffle
CLEVELAND — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson 's final desperation heave into the end zone had fallen harmlessly to the snow-covered turf. The Browns' 24-19 win Thursday night was officially secured.
Yet, as most of his teammates were celebrating their win, Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II was entangled with Steelers wide receiver George Pickens in a postgame scuffle in the back of the end zone directly in front of the stands. The more accurate description was that Newsome was trying to get Pickens off him after being taken down well after the play — and game — was over.
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"Yeah, he's a fake tough guy," Newsome said of Pickens. "He does a lot of that, the antics and stuff. Yeah, he didn't even go up for the ball. He was just trying to do WrestleMania with me the whole time. So that's what happened at the end."
The Steelers had the football at the Browns 35 with just six seconds remaining. Wilson threw the ball into a crowd of players from both teams in a desperation Hail Mary on the right side of the end zone.
However, as the play was ending, Pickens was engaged with Newsome. The Pittsburgh wide receiver could be seen grabbing the Cleveland cornerback's helmet as they carried out of the back of the end zone.
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Pickens, as they neared the wall in front of the seats behind the goal post, took Newsome down to the ground. At that point, multiple security guards and police intervened to separate the two, but it didn't quell the frustration in the Steelers wide receiver.
"Conditions played a huge part in today's game," Pickens told reporters in the Pittsburgh locker room. "I don't think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today."
It was that kind of night for the Steelers wide receiver, who led Pittsburgh in targets (seven) but only had four catches for 48 yards. Of those, 31 came on first-quarter reception on which it appeared Pickens pushed off against cornerback Denzel Ward .
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) reacts during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in Cleveland.
Pickens had just one 7-yard catch on three targets in the second half. He did draw a personal foul penalty on Browns safety Grant Delpit , who yanked the mouthpiece off Pickens' facemask one play before Jaylen Warren 's 3-yard touchdown run pulled Pittsburgh within 18-13 with 7:57 remaining.
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Delpit, like Newsome, couldn't help but take a little extra glee in the overall win afterward, especially when it came to the matchup with Pickens.
"I let my intrusive thoughts win, but it looked like we won the battle," Delpit. "So we won the battle. So eff it, we ball."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Greg Newsome II calls George Pickens 'fake tough guy' after scuffle
