It’s not often in the Pittsburgh Steelers rivalry against the Baltimore Ravens that players from either side turncoat against the other. There have been examples, but what are the examples of stars doing that? It’s few and far between, so when the team signed Patrick Queen in free agency, that caught more than a few people off guard.
Queen said in his introductory press conference last month that he wants to be known not as someone who was a former Raven but as the villain of that rivalry.
“It’s going to be weird, but I want to be that villain. I want to be that guy. I’m looking to do some stuff to them,” Queen said.
After Queen signed with the Steelers, he heard some slights back from Baltimore, and his former teammates threw playful banter his way. It was all in good fun, though. They understand that it’s a business.
“It’s not weird at all. Life happens, and he’s somewhere else right now,” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith said of Queen on Wednesday.
Smith made sure to throw a playful jab at Queen, however.
“I got to tear his picture down in the LB room. So, you know we have linebackers all over the wall. I need a video of me probably punching it or something like that. Or maybe I’ll ask [special teams coach Chris Horton] if I can get out there on special on a punt play and he stays to get something on him.
“But I’m happy for him. I’m wishing him all the best and it will be good to see him twice a year. He’s still my guy but when war is war, that’s what it is.”
Trenton Simpson is expected to replace Queen at the inside linebacker position opposite of Smith.
“Simp is busting his tail wanting to be the best. I know his mindset, so I’m excited. He has all the potential in the world. It’s just going to be about putting that on the field week in and week out, and trusting his ability. I think if he does that, he’ll be the best second-year linebacker in the league,” Smith said.
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