STEELERS AFC NORTH RIVAL MARLON HUMPHREY GIVES WARNING TO PLAYERS GOING TO PITTSBURGH: 'REALITY EVENTUALLY SETS IN'
The Pittsburgh Steelers don't like any of the teams that reside in the AFC North, but it's hard to argue that once the ball is kicked off during divisional matchups, the Baltimore Ravens aren't the most hated. The rivalry has always been defined as being respectful off the field, but it entails plenty of animosity on the playing surface. It will only get better in 2024 after one of the Ravens' top defensive players, Patrick Queen, signed with Pittsburgh in free agency. It was noted as the largest free-agency contract in the history of the Steelers organization. It ended up being a three-year, $41 million deal.
One of the more popular trends throughout the NFL has been players adapting to how fans want to receive content in 2024. Steelers fans will have some anxiety about that in reference to the JuJu Smith-Schuster TikTok debacle, but podcasts have become increasingly more popular for professional athletes to host. That includes Ravens safety Marlon Humphrey.
Humphrey co-hosts the "Punch Line Podcast" and recently posted a new episode to the program's YouTube page. While discussing Queen's departure to Pittsburgh, he wanted to make a point that players around the league could regret ending up signing with the Steelers. He wasn't specifically talking about a former Raven such as Miles Boykin or Chris Wormley, but he wanted to be clear about what he has heard.
"I've been at the Ravens for a while. I've seen this same story go down with a lot of guys. 'It's the best place on Earth, this new place, oh my God dude, it's not like the Ravens.' Reality sets in eventually," Humphrey said. "Okay. Okay. I hope it's great over there, but sometimes -- I've seen that once or twice. I don't know anyone in Pittsburgh that's from the Ravens, but I have seen this story."
It's a slight innuendo from Humphrey, but he is implying that players across the NFL don't enjoy Pittsburgh when they arrive for the first time. It could just be some rival talk and a little message to Queen, but it's certainly interesting for someone like Humphrey to say that, especially because Mike Tomlin is one of the most beloved head coaches.
Humphrey continued and almost wanted to congratulate his former teammate for moving on and accepting an offer from another AFC North squad, but he decided to refrain from giving Queen any kind of recognition in that moment.
"He seems to be happy over there. So shoutout to, well actually, no we aren't going to shout him out, but good job."
Queen provided a considerable amount of consistency for the Ravens, but his production certainly increased once Roquan Smith was acquired from the Chicago Bears. There will definitely be some firepower to the games that Pittsburgh and Baltimore compete in come the latter half of the 2024 season, and the storyline of Queen departing the Ravens to become a member of the Steelers will be at the forefront of billboard material.
Steelers will need Queen to get help in order to showcase dynamic LB core
The Steelers needed an inside linebacker to come in and fill a void that hasn't been consistent since Ryan Shazier's career-ending injury. The franchise may have that with Queen if he can prove that he doesn't need anyone else around him to produce. It's fair to say too that if Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Payton Wilson all perform, Pittsburgh's inside linebacker core could be extremely dangerous.
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