Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens might be in hot water after sporting an explicit message on his eye black during Sunday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL, known for keeping a tight grip on uniform policy, is reviewing the situation, per ESPN.
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The message, written in silver, read "Open F—-ing Always" — a far cry from the typical motivational or tribute statements players sometimes sneak in.
NFL rules are clear: personal messages that aren't pre-approved are a no-go. Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 spells it out, but Pickens apparently decided to take his chances. And while Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seemed to be in the dark about it, saying, "I don't know what messaging you're talking about regarding his eye black," the league's always watching.
This isn't the first time the NFL has taken issue with players expressing themselves. In 2015, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward was hit with a fine for writing "Iron Head" on his eye black in tribute to his late father. That same week, running back DeAngelo Williams was fined for wearing "Find the Cure" to honor family members lost to breast cancer. Even showing support for domestic violence awareness, as defensive back William Gay did with purple cleats, wasn't immune from the NFL's watchful eye.
As for Pickens, who played just 34 snaps in the game—a career low—he hasn't spoken about the issue. Declining interviews postgame and staying quiet during Monday's media availability, the second-year wideout is leaving the talking to others. But come Saturday, when the league's gameday accountability report drops, we'll likely find out if Pickens' bold move came with a hefty price tag.
