One of the more bizarre offseason beefs to witness unfold in the last few months has been Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen against his old team, the Baltimore Ravens. Queen has taken every opportunity to tell us he doesn't care about the Ravens, which is not normally the behavior of someone truly unbothered.
Not only did Queen claim he took less money when he signed a three-year, $41 million contract in the offseason, but the former LSU star says he did that to win more. This comes after he left a team that had the best regular-season record in the league last season and is a consistent playoff force.
Queen has been sparring on social media with Ravens fans understandably upset that a great player has left to join a hated rival. On top of the many affirmations that he made the right choice (which may be entirely possible both on and off the field), Queen has entered uncharted territory by insulting Baltimore's atmosphere and food.
“I don’t care … it’s the truth,” Queen said via The Athletic. “I am not saying anything bad about them. I am just speaking the truth...It’s a better atmosphere here for me. Everybody is cool, the people are cool, the players are cool and the food spots are better."
Patrick Queen has been on both sides of one of football's fiercest rivalries.
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) June 3, 2024
And perhaps the new Steelers LB was just playing to his audience. Maybe he's bitter Roquan Smith was paid over him.
Or maybe he just likes Pittsburgh more.
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Patrick Queen calls out Ravens, says Steelers "better atmosphere"
There is an undercurrent of jealousy coming from Ravens fans, as there is with any big free agent departure to a rival team. Not only did Queen leave after an All-Pro season, but he left the Ravens with the vastly unproven Trenton Simpson in line to start next to Roquan Smith.
While the Steelers are a well-run franchise that wins a lot of games, Ravens fans are hoping Queen realizes how good he had it in Baltimore and the roadblocks Pittsburgh faces on their path to contention.
Going after the food may have been his worst infraction of all. Pierogis are great, but Baltimore brings together the best of Southern and seafood in one glorious combination. Even people in Pittsburgh will tell you the city is far from being one of the culinary hotbeds of America.
Luckily for both parties, Queen and the Ravens will get two chances (at minimum) to meet up and iron things out this season. These games are always impactful bloodbaths, but Queen continuing to throw gas on the fire and declare his hatred for perfectly steamed crab has turned the intensity up to 11.