Talking to reporters earlier in the week, Queen recounted the Baltimore Ravens letting him walk in free agency this past year without even a contract offer. It was something that Queen waited for in March but never received once the Ravens calculated he would make too much money for them to pay him and Roquan Smith.
Queen came out on Sunday with a flair. He was clearly hyped-up from the jump, but it was maybe energy from appreciation. There could be a ‘revenge game’ angle to it, but Queen never viewed it like that after waking up on Sunday.
In fact, Queen says he felt no anger, and instead is happy where he is with the Steelers. He did that to the tune of ten tackles, including a huge forced fumble and recovery on Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely before the half.
“I think at the beginning, I probably thoguht I would have been a bit more mad,” Queen said. “I woke up this morning, and I didn’t feel any anger. I just felt content with life and the game and being where I’m supposed to be.”
Since the Ravens drafted Queen, head coach Mike Tomlin has always said that Queen belongs with the Steelers. He got his wish when they signed him, and after the game, Tomlin made his feelings clear.
“Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I’m glad he’s on our team,” Tomlin said.
Multiple teammates spoke up about Queen and how much this game meant to him. There were heightened emotions, but Queen never used those emotions to get penalties or go off the deep end.
That does not mean the emotions did hit Queen after the win, though, especially on his dad’s birthday.
“You dream about plays, and some days they don’t happen. Everybody today was like you’re going to get one. This was my dad’s birthday too, he was like you’ve got to get me one. It’s just crazy how things work out, though. Knowing I had to come out here and support my team and play as hard as I can for them and just do my job,” Queen said.
Queen got a game ball from Tomlin after the win. He appreciates it, and Queen even got to head out to midfield pregame as a captain for the coin toss. It was a revenge game, but Queen is just happy to be where he is at.
