Steelers' George Pickens hit with enormous fine from Bengals game

Pickens was fined a total of $20,462 for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the Steelers’ Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. One fine was for taunting, while the other was for making a violent gesture.

Pickens was first flagged in the first half when he dropped the ball on linebacker Germaine Pratt after a catch and run and then again in the third quarter after firing an imaginary gun. Pickens claims he was making a first-down gesture.

Pickens escaped a fine in Week 12 after getting into a post-game skirmish with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II.

Pickens received a hefty $16,883 fine for unnecessary roughness (facemask) on Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ Week 10 win. He was fined twice for a total of $20,463 in the Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was fined $10,231 by the NFL for an explicit eye black message and docked $10,230 for throwing Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis down by his facemask at the conclusion of the game.

Pickens was reportedly fined over $200,000 by the team and league last year.

Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt was fined $22,511 for a helmet-to-helmet hit (unnecessary roughness) on Steelers running back Najee Harris. Harris was evaluated for a head injury but he was cleared and returned to the game.