First Call: Arthur Maulet jabs back at Patrick Queen; Steelers Hall of Fame projections for the next decade

Thursday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler in Baltimore firing back at a current Steeler who used to be a Raven.

We also get some speculation on Steelers Hall of Fame candidates and some national reaction to the Pirates’ trade deadline tactics.

Plus, a former Penguins fan favorite has picked up a little side work.

Maulet mixing it up

Former Steeler-turned-Baltimore Raven Arthur Maulet is firing back at former Raven-turned-Steeler Patrick Queen.

“P.Q., we know the food is not better, bro. We know the city is not better, bro. Come on,” Maulet said today via Ravens.com.

Those comments from Maulet are in response to Queen saying that the food and the lifestyle in Pittsburgh are better than what he experienced in Baltimore before signing here as a free agent in March. 

Apparently, Maulet and others in Baltimore, such as defensive back Marlon Humphrey, have taken exception to Queen’s quick disassociation from Baltimore upon his arrival in Pittsburgh.

But based on Queen’s response to Maulet’s comments later Wednesday afternoon, he’s not all that concerned.

We in camp and yall still bringing up my food takes???? pic.twitter.com/qVFgdQ4O1f

— ???? (@Patrickqueen_) July 31, 2024

The Ravens and Steelers don’t play each other this year until Week 11 at Acrisure Stadium.

Down the road

With the Hall of Fame game coming up Thursday night, ESPN.com threw together a list of who might make the Hall of Fame over the next decade.

Between now and 2034, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has seven current or former Steelers making it.

• Ben Roethlisberger in 2027 (first year of eligibility)

• Maurkice Pouncey in 2028 (third year of eligibility)

• Antonio Brown in 2030 (fourth year of eligibility)

• Russell Wilson in 2031 (second year of eligibility)

• Patrick Peterson in 2031 (second year of eligibility)

• Cordarrelle Patterson in 2033 (fourth year of eligibility)

• T.J. Watt in 2034 (first year of eligibility)

Two Steelers are missing from that list: David DeCastro in 2026 and, potentially, Cameron Heyward in 2030.

Barnwell also has former Pitt stars Larry Fitzgerald gaining entry in 2026 and Aaron Donald in 2029.

More sports

• Hit on quarterback Justin Fields ignites fight that spices up Steelers training camp
• Steelers inside the ropes: With the pads on, running game again prominent
• Pirates activate newly acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz, place OF Joshua Palacios on IL

Who says what?

National opinions seem to be mixed on how the Pirates fared at the trade deadline.

For the most part, ESPN.com’s Bradford Doolittle seems to be on board with general manager Ben Cherington’s execution.

“I was hoping for a head-turning splash,” Doolittle wrote. “Luis Robert Jr.! Cody Bellinger! The ghost of Honus Wagner! But for a team that is so often an afterthought this time of the year, I’ll take the additions of Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz and look forward to a second-half run on the strength of that exciting rotation. The Pirates didn’t dip too deeply into their prospect base, and you could argue that they could have pushed the envelope a little more. The best prospect they dealt was arguably Quinn Priester, and they traded him for … another prospect (Nick Yorke).”

However, The Ringer’s Anthony Dabbundo has a completely different take.

“Pittsburgh has obvious weaknesses, and in true Pittsburgh fashion, little was done to address them and maximize this opportunity with the city and team in the national spotlight due to Skenes-mania,” Dabbundo said. “The Pirates added two bats — Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz. We’ve seen 2,696 plate appearances of below-average hitting from IKF with a career .670 OPS. Consider me skeptical that his .758 OPS this season with Toronto will last. De La Cruz has some real power, but he’s posted a 92 and a 96 wRC+ in the past two years. The Pirates were rumored to be in play for (Jazz) Chisholm and Yandy Díaz, but they ended up with worse hitters. Pittsburgh also has gaping offensive holes at catcher, third base and center field.”

I get Dabbundo’s point. The team is still very flawed, as are the players they picked up.

But a lot of the guys who could have been better (Diaz, Brent Rooker, Vlad Guerrero Jr.) didn’t move at the deadline at all. So, I tend to side with Doolittle here. The Pirates are better suited to hang in the wild card race now than they were a few days ago.

In Pittsburgh, there is a low bar to clear. Cherington cleared it. I’ll second him guess down the line a few years from now, if needed. For now, though, I’m giving the organization a passing grade.

Tik-Tocchet

Former Penguins assistant coach and Stanley Cup Champion player Rick Tocchet is getting a new side gig.

He is going to be one of the assistant coaches on Jon Cooper’s staff for Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will be held in Boston and Montreal from Feb. 12-20, 2025.

Four assistant coaches have joined Jon Cooper’s staff for the #4Nations Face-Off. ????????

Quatre entraîneurs adjoints épauleront Jon Cooper à la Confrontation des 4 nations. ????????

???? Bruce Cassidy
???? Peter DeBoer
???? Rick Tocchet
???? Misha Donskov@NHL | @LNH_FR | @NHLPA

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 31, 2024

Teams representing the U.S., Finland and Sweden are also participating. Tocchet coached the Vancouver Canucks to the Pacific Division regular season crown this year.

Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy, Dallas’ Peter DeBoer and Misha Donskov are rounding out the staff. Donskov served as an assistant under DeBoer and Cassidy with the Golden Knights from 2019-23. Then he hopped on DeBoer’s staff as an assistant in Dallas last year.

Listen: Tim Benz recaps the Pirates trade deadline moves.