When players fail to contribute, they let down their teammates. Mike Golic, who spent eight seasons in the NFL, expressed deep frustration over Steelers wideout George Pickens’ apparent lack of effort in a critical play during Week 15 against the Colts.
It really ticks me off … This one aggravates the hell out of me. You’ve got 10 people on that field busting their asses and you’ve got one guy that quits cause he’s thinking about himself and thinking ‘I might get hurt on this play. So I’m not going to continue with the block.’ … And he admits it! He admits he quit on the play because he was thinking about not getting hurt.
You went out there and knowingly and selfishly quit on a play that was coming right at you … To admit that and to quit blocking when 10 other guys, as I said, are busting their ass out there aggravates the hell out of me! And that’s not old school, that’s not new school. No. That’s you have a job to do, that you practiced to do. That’s your man. Block him!
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Golic criticized Pickens for admitting to quitting on the play due to concerns about getting hurt, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and commitment to one’s role on the field.
Pickens’ response, dismissing critics and attributing the backlash to media opinions, has further fueled negative perceptions and calls for a public relations overhaul.
