Patrick Queen waited a long time last spring for a contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens before he became a free agent, but it never materialized. He was more hurt than he thought.
On Wednesday, eight months after leaving Baltimore to start again with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Queen stated frankly, “I wasn’t wanted back.” “I never received an offer back. However, it is undoubtedly rather distressing. Queen didn’t start to come to terms with what had happened until the summer, when he was starting to settle into Pittsburgh and make friends with his new teammates.
He acknowledged, though, that playing the Ravens on Sunday would evoke strong feelings because it’s a rematch with his old team and the AFC North title is at stake. “Obviously, anyone in my position would feel something this week,” Queen stated. However, Queen is intent on carrying out his duties regardless of any residual emotions. In an attempt to strengthen their inside linebacker position, which has been a problem for Pittsburgh since Ryan Shazier’s career-ending injury in 2017, the Steelers made a significant investment in Queen during free agency.
After a rough start in Pittsburgh, the 25-year-old Queen has lately settled into a groove and is now a vital member of one of the NFL’s top defenses. Queen has been an active presence against the run, has four tackles for loss, and has deflected three passes while not yet recording a sack. That is significant because the Ravens, under the leadership of Lamar Jackson, enter the game with the league’s top-ranked offense. Queen has temporarily ceased communicating with his former teammates, notably linebacker Roquan Smith, despite Jackson and his former Ravens teammates congratulating him on his signing with Pittsburgh and considering it a wonderful financial move. Although Queen and Smith were one of the league’s best linebacker combinations, Queen wanted to demonstrate that Smith’s presence was not the only factor in his success. Although Queen didn’t state outright that he would have remained in Baltimore had the Ravens extended an offer to him, it is obvious that he values the bonds he formed with his old club and that leaving was difficult.
“The entire situation definitely made me feel a certain way,” Queen remarked. He added that since departing, he hasn’t spoken to John Harbaugh, the coach of the Ravens. “But now I’m over it.”
The Steelers are off to their best start since 2020, and Queen has moved on. As Pittsburgh and Baltimore square off in one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries, Queen is now prepared to accept his role as the “villain.” Queen is particularly thrilled about the opportunity to strike Jackson, something he was unable to do while playing with the Ravens. In practice, he was limited to touching Jackson occasionally, which was the best he could do.
Queen stated, “We all know the type of athlete he is, how fast he is, and how dynamic he is.” “I would make every effort to position myself to attempt a play.”
With a 3-1 record versus Jackson as a starter, Pittsburgh has had success against him in recent years. The Steelers have picked off Jackson seven times and only given up four touchdown passes. The Steelers defense knows how to slow Jackson down, despite the fact that he is playing better than ever this season. When Queen was with Baltimore, he had witnessed it personally. According to Queen, “they keep things simple, trying to get after him, not letting him do what he does.”
Last week, the Steelers employed a similar strategy to contain rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and defeat Washington 28-27. But Queen is aware that this week will be unique. Instead of a rookie quarterback, it’s Jackson and the Ravens this time. It might be difficult to avoid trash-talking his old teammates. Queen acknowledged that he has occasionally said things on the field that he has since come to regret, but those instances typically occur when he is playing against a player he truly dislikes. But this Sunday is different.
He knows he’ll likely be talking the entire game and will see his old pals in a different light. Queen remarked, “The older I get, the more I do it.” That’s simply who I am now. That is beyond my control. I am unable to retract it. It’s only me.
