Ravens CB Arthur Maulet: "I like to stick my nose in some dirty places"

The Ravens have made some cash splashes in the past, and there's no denying that. You have Odell Beckham getting signed to a hefty 15$ million deal last offseason. You have the humongous, then record-breaking deal offered to franchise QB Lamar Jackson. On and on it goes...

That said, the Ravens are known for exploiting the market and for taking advantage of the tiniest of edges and bargains they can find there. That's why Baltimore's season has been defined by several veterans signed by the Flock before and during the season, including those with past injury concerns, questions about their level of play, or simply ostracised and cut by former teams.

"Every team is trying to be player-friendly now, but they don’t want you to be no one but yourself here. That’s what I appreciate so much. I can get in my feelings if I don’t like something and they are not going to be like, ‘Oh, he’s not a good player.’ It’s like, ‘It is what it is. He’s a human being.’ I respect that. They know their personnel and they judge it off of that."

- Arthur Maulet, Baltimore Ravens CB

Among them is 30-year-old cornerback Arthur Maulet, who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers (of all teams...) last May over salary disagreements. The Ravens, familiar with Maulet's abilities from prior matchups AFC North matchups, lost no time and signed him to a one-year, $1.1 million contract just before training camp.

So far this season, Maulet has contributed two sacks, an interception, and four pass breakups on defense for the Ravens, turning into a key member of the secondary while also taking on nickel-cornerback duties when needed. He told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic that the Ravens franchise culture convinced him to sign with Baltimore last summer.

"I was constantly on the phone with them throughout the whole process and it just made more sense. I was in the AFC. I knew the teams that I was going against, I knew what they bring to the table. And I’m an AFC North guy. I’m a physical guy who likes to stick my nose in some dirty places. That’s playing the nickel and things like that. It was just a perfect fit for me."

- Arthur Maulet, Baltimore Ravens CB

Maulet praised the Ravens' player-friendly environment, appreciating the team's acceptance of players' personalities and emotions, simply treating everybody as human beings instead of limiting what players can or cannot do while with the organization.

The rugged cornerback, who is known for his strong game, acknowledged "I’m a physical guy who likes to stick my nose in some dirty places.

"That’s playing the nickel and things like that. It was just a perfect fit for me."

With Kyle Hamilton banged up a bit and facing a probable absence next weekend in the Week 15 matchup at Jacksonville against the Jaguars, Maulet might be on the verge of getting into the true spotlight as there could be a massive hole to fill if Hamilton misses Sunday's matchup.

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