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George Pickens Trade Rumors: Tension Grows Between Receiver and Steelers

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George Pickens trade rumors
George Pickens trade rumors

George Pickens trade rumors

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is typically effective at managing issues quietly and internally, but that strategy didn’t work with receiver George Pickens.

The warning signs had been present for some time, suggesting that Pickens wasn’t likely to sign a second or third contract or go down as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Looking back at the 2023 season, Pickens’ frustration during a Thursday night game against the Titans sparked several days of media attention. He quickly scrubbed all Steelers-related content from his Instagram. Tomlin described the situation as a “pebble in my shoe.”

That moment made it clear the relationship was on a ticking clock.

The tension continued throughout 2023 and into 2024. Things escalated late last season. After a game against the Bengals where Pickens received two personal fouls, Tomlin commented, “He’s just got to grow up, man. This is an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He’s got a target on his back because he’s George — he understands that. But he’s got to grow up, and fast.”

That was on December 1. Then, following a Christmas Day home loss to the Chiefs, Pickens interrupted postgame interviews with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to greet them, which came across as a “come get me” message to the AFC’s top team. It sparked speculation about whether the team and player were headed for a split.

After the wild-card playoff loss to the Ravens, Pickens was asked if he felt optimistic about the offense’s future.

“Uh, nah,” he responded.

While Pickens stayed relatively quiet afterward — except for unfollowing the Steelers on social media during draft week — things got loud on the team’s end. Pittsburgh traded for receiver DK Metcalf and gave him a five-year, $150 million deal. That move made it clear Pickens wouldn’t be receiving a similar offer.

It also signaled a demotion for Pickens in his contract year — from WR1 to WR2 — with fewer targets as the team prioritized their new $30 million-per-year receiver.

So yes, this outcome was inevitable. Even if Pickens never formally requested a trade, the desire had long been implied.

Lakers First-Round Loss: Season Ends in Disappointment Against Timberwolves

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List of Champions League winners ranked: Every UCL Champion Since 1992

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Ranking every Champions League winner since the inception in 1992
Champions League winners ranked

Champions League winners ranked

Champions League Winners Ranked (1992–Present)

Real Madrid Titles: 7 (1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) Real Madrid is the most successful club in the Champions League era, dominating with several titles and remarkable performances.

AC Milan Titles: 3 (1994, 2003, 2007) Milan had a golden moment in the 1990s and early 2000s with famous teams and world-class players.

Barcelona Titles: 4 (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011) Known for their tiki-taka style, Barcelona’s four titles include the famous Guardiola time.

Bayern Munich Titles: 3 (2001, 2013, 2020) Bayern is a powerhouse with a constant participation in games and a reputation for resilience.

Liverpool Titles: 2 (2005, 2019) The Reds have a deep European past, with spectacular finals including the stunning 2005 comeback.

Chelsea Titles: 2 (2012, 2021) Chelsea emerged as Champions League winners twice in the 2010s, cementing their elite European status.

Manchester United Titles: 1 (1999) Their memorable treble-winning 1999 campaign is famous in Champions League history.

Porto Titles: 1 (2004) Porto’s 2004 win under José Mourinho was a stunning upset and a hallmark of underdog glory.

Inter Milan Titles: 1 (2010) Inter won the Champions League during their treble-winning 2009–10 season under José Mourinho.

Marseille Titles: 1 (1993) Marseille were the first club to win the Champions League after its change from the European Cup. Summary Table (Titles Only)
Rank Club Titles Years Won

RankClubTitlesYears Won
1Real Madrid71998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
2Barcelona41992, 2006, 2009, 2011
3AC Milan31994, 2003, 2007
4Bayern Munich32001, 2013, 2020
5Liverpool22005, 2019
6Chelsea22012, 2021
7Manchester Utd11999
8Porto12004
9Inter Milan12010
10Marseille11993

Bonus: Notable Finalists (No Titles Since 1992)

  • Juventus (finalists multiple times, no title since 1996 European Cup)
  • Atletico Madrid (finalists 2014, 2016)
  • Valencia (finalists 2000, 2001)
  • Borussia Dortmund (won before 1992; finalists in 2013)


George Pickens Trade Rumors: Tension Grows Between Receiver and Steelers

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Lakers First-Round Loss: Season Ends in Disappointment Against Timberwolves

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Lakers first-round loss

Lakers first-round loss

Since the day he got it, the shirt—a replica of the Lakers’ famous golden jerseys with “Doncic” on the back and No. 77 on the front—has remained in LeBron James‘ spare locker.

When the Lakers executed the midseason deal that brought them two of the NBA’s top big-game performers, James publicly signaled that he was ready to embrace the collaboration by wearing a jersey just like it during pregame warmups on February 10.

However, Luka Doncic was grimacing during their season-ending Game 5 defeat to Minnesota on Wednesday after a foul jarred his lower back in the first half. In the fourth quarter, James hobbled off the court, hardly putting any weight on his left leg.

Nevertheless, the two were on the floor with just over seven minutes remaining, and the Lakers were prepared to support the popular notion that the tighter the game, the better off they would be due to their leaders.

With three minutes remaining and the Lakers behind by two, the scoreboard in Crypto.com Arena displayed highlights of Doncic and James, with their No. 77 and No. 23 jerseys totaling up to 100.

However, the arithmetic never added up, just as it did in the latter quarters of this first-round playoff series.

Doncic missed a crucial layup once more. Once more, James struggled to establish a rhythm throughout the fourth quarter.

Even though the Doncic shirt was hanging in the Lakers’ locker room, the optimism that had grown over the previous two months completely vanished as the team lost 103-96, capping the first chapter of the James-Doncic partnership.

The fact that Minnesota missed 40 three-pointers, the most of any club in a postseason victory, was irrelevant. The Timberwolves ended with a 54-37 lead, seemingly grabbing every rebound. Anthony Edwards was only five for 19 from the field, but it didn’t matter since the Lakers were unable to score. Even though the Lakers were playing at home, Minnesota silenced the crowd as the Timberwolves dominated the fourth quarter defensively for the sixth consecutive game.

Lakers coach JJ Redick started Dorian Finney-Smith in the second half of Game 4 and benched big Jaxson Hayes, sacrificing size for speed and spacing. Rudy Gobert, the center for the Timberwolves, punished the Lakers this time with playoff career highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds.

Doncic scored 28 points on seven-for-18 shooting after overcoming a poor start. James made nine of 21 shots to score 22 points. Austin Reaves missed eight of ten three-pointers and finished with just 12 points on five of fourteen shots.

The Lakers never appeared to have it easy throughout any of the series.

The majority of the credit should go to Minnesota, who not only appeared to be the more united team but also played as if they were made specifically to draw attention to all of the Lakers’ weaknesses.

A team that always seemed to play harder defeated the Lakers, who won games by playing hard. A tougher squad defeated the Lakers, who had home-court advantage because of their toughness. Additionally, the Lakers, who were capable of defeating any team throughout the regular season, suffered a series defeat to a club they were clearly unable to defeat.

In an angry response to a pregame question suggesting he needed to rely on his assistant coaches to properly manage late-game substitutions, Redick said the Lakers were “on edge” during the practice before to Game 5.

His team lost ground rapidly. When the Lakers selected Minnesota’s Julius Randle in the 2014 first round, he appeared to be the dominant tone-setter the franchise had envisioned. Randle was the first component of the Lakers’ post-Kobe Bryant plans.

Only one of eight shots was made in the first quarter by James and Doncic, who had the best two scoring averages in NBA history during elimination games. The crowd’s whispers lengthened with every miss, reflecting the Lakers’ diminishing opportunities.

Early in the second quarter, the team exerted pressure as Randle and Jaden McDaniels—possibly the most useful player in the series—sat with foul trouble, allowing the Lakers to get within a single possession many times.

However, the Lakers and their players appeared more like distinct individuals than an unstoppable force when they needed to capitalize. Doncic flew to the corner and delivered a ball straight to Edwards, and James attempted to locate him. Due to Doncic’s inability to play on the defensive string the Lakers all needed to be using, James became openly frustrated with the Lakers’ bench as a result of Minnesota’s easy baskets.

However, the Lakers accomplished something they hadn’t done much of this season: they controlled the third quarter with their season on the line. After falling behind 14 points, the Lakers rallied to take the lead on a three from Dorian Finney-Smith. They then traded points with the Timberwolves to cut the deficit to one going into the fourth quarter.

However, the Lakers’ offense, which had the potential to be more effective, ended weakly in the fourth quarter, scoring just 16 points.

The Lakers have never lost a first-round series as a No. 3 seed or higher. In their previous three postseason series, they had a 2–12 record.

Rams Trade Up, 2 RBs Go Top 15 in Colin Cowherd’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft

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Rams Trade Up, 2 RBs Go Top 15 in Colin Cowherd’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft

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2025 NFL mock draft

2025 NFL mock draft buzz is at an all-time high as Draft Day finally arrives. The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft will take place Thursday night. For the first time in the Common Draft Era, every team still holds its first-round pick as of Thursday afternoon. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of blockbuster trades. According to Colin Cowherd’s final mock draft, one team is set to make a major move into the top 15.

“I was on the phone last night, yesterday afternoon and this morning and there was a lot of Bears rumors about Ashton Jeanty,” Cowherd stated on Thursday’s “The Herd.” However, many teams require items in order for a trade to be successful. The Jaguars are reportedly interested in going up and acquiring Travis Hunter. What do we get, then? As a result, there are numerous calls and discussions. There are many calls, but you hardly ever get moves in the top ten picks. This is what I’m hearing, then.

NFL DRAFT COVERAGE

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Now, let’s examine Colin Cowherd’s last mock draft, which features odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Additionally, you can view all of the previous mock drafts we’ve released this week here:

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)

Odds to be No. 1 overall pick: -20000

Cowherd’s opinion: “This one is simple. well suited to Brian Callahan’s offensive scheme. Above all, he is a significant improvement in talent compared to the quarterback the Titans used the previous season. Tennessee’s quarterbacks combined for 21 picks and 22 touchdowns last season.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado 

Odds to be No. 2 overall pick: -2500

Cowherd’s opinion: “The draft’s most gifted athlete. Hunter is, in my opinion, a historically talented athlete. Not just one call is coming in about Travis Hunter. I think they’re going to keep him. He might not be a Shohei Ohtani. Perhaps he is. However, there aren’t many guys like this.

  1. 3.New York Giants: Penn State, Abdul Carter, edge

  2. Chances of being selected third overall: -1400
  3. Cowherd’s opinion: “Carter is one of the four or five stars in the draft, but it’s a star-less draft.” Although they already have a strong defensive line, many teams choose the top player on the market. Carter is without a doubt the best talent available right now.

  1. 4.New England Patriots: LSU, OT, Will Campbell
    Odds of being selected fourth overall: – 475
  2. Cowherd’s opinion: “The Patriots actually had the league’s weakest offensive line. Wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs are available elsewhere. Only four or five offensive tackles—possibly even fewer—are truly liked by the public. There’s Drake Maye. You must now keep him safe.
  1. 5.Michigan’s Mason Graham, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
    The odds of being selected fifth overall are +350.

Cowherd’s opinion: “One of the cleaner guys in the draft is selected by the Jaguars. Last year, they were unable to stop the run. They have Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, by the way, so Graham would make a good combination there and their defensive line would be ready for lines. Mason Graham is someone I adore.

6.Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State, Las Vegas Raiders
The odds of being selected sixth overall are +425

Cowherd’s opinion: “The Raiders require a running back and a receiver. The former school of Pete Carroll. He enjoys making run games. His greatest achievements were with Reggie Bush and LenDale White in college and Marshawn Lynch in the professional ranks. Jeanty is necessary. He is a truly exceptional running back first-round talent, in my opinion.

  1. 7.Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State, New York Jets
    +175 is the odds to be selected seventh overall.
  2. Cowherd’s opinion: “The Jets lack enough weapons, even though I know they have a defensive coordinator. Garrett Wilson requires some defense. Tyler Warren caught 17 balls while playing for USC. Although he isn’t Brock Bowers, I don’t think the Jets can pass on him because of his versatility and agility. He fixes the Jets’ lack of tight end performance for the ensuing five years.

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