Ravens players respond to Patrick Queen’s decision to play with the rival Steelers
The rival Pittsburgh Steelers of the Ravens are expected to sign Patrick Queen, making the AFC North even more intense.
Marcus Spears of ESPN claims that the contract is for $41 million over three years.
The Ravens players were quick to express their feelings, and Queen anticipated them.
Queen can definitely improve the Steelers’ inside linebacker situation, which has been problematic in recent seasons. The 2020 first-round choice of the Ravens became a Pro Bowl player the previous season, with a career-high 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one interception.
Baltimore decided not to pick up Queen’s fifth-year option this summer after signing Roquan Smith to a big-time deal close to the end of the 2022 campaign. Queen was going to be available since the Ravens then placed the franchise tag on Justin Madubuike, a defensive lineman.
Queen would have been a great asset to the Ravens, and general manager Eric DeCosta expressed his desire to sign Queen to a longer contract in May of last year.
But it would never be easy to do so with one inside linebacker already committed to $20 million year on average, and Lamar Jackson’s deal on the rise. The incredible 2023 season for Queen made it even less likely.
In all four of his Baltimore seasons, Queen started every game. Four interceptions, five forced fumbles, 13.5 sacks, and 454 tackles were all made by him. Following some early-career setbacks, Queen emerged into a superior all-around back and, over the past 18 months, he has forged a formidable tandem alongside Smith.
Queen will now get the opportunity to demonstrate to his old club twice a year that he remains the same dynamic linebacker even without Smith beside him.
Queen’s move to Pittsburgh is noteworthy in that he previously related a narrative about Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin “disrespecting” him in his first season.
When speaking about Ravens-Steelers games in October, Queen stated, “It’s the game that defines you and makes you a Raven.” Mike Tomlin was staring at me and screaming, ‘You’re not a Raven,’ while I was on their bench during my first season. It’s not you, Raven. It is not intended for you to be there. You do not belong to them. Thus, there’s something personal every time I play them.”
“I don’t care if he was joking,” Queen said in response to a question about whether Tomlin was making a joke. It doesn’t matter if he was sincere. When all is said and done, you’re telling me that I’m not a Raven when I’m on your sidelines. That is rather discourteous.
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