Is the grass always greener on the other side? That’s always the question when an NFL free agent leaves a good team for more money elsewhere. Results have always been mixed when a star focuses on maximizing earning potential over the fit with the franchise.
One of the biggest in a series of huge signings this offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers was linebacker Patrick Queen. Queen left the Baltimore Ravens to sign a three-year, $41 million contract in the offseason. A move his former teammate, cornerback Marlon Humphrey thinks Queen will regret.
Humphrey talked on his podcast about the stories he’s heard about things not being as great as advertised when players come to the Steelers.
“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.”
This is an interesting point of view when you consider head coach Mike Tomlin. Most players consider him a player’s coach of the highest order and the perfect coach to play for. But as we’ve seen over the years, Tomlin’s guys don’t always bring it on Sunday like a team who loves their team. Maybe Humphrey knows something we don’t.