No one within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization would classify the horrible 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday as anything less than embarrassing. It was the franchise's worst defeat since 1989 and there were very few positive things to takeaway after the matchup. As one would expect, the tensions were high in the locker room according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter, Ray Fittipaldo. An unexpected leader emerged as reporters could hear cornerback, Arthur Maulet vocally upset with the performance and even some of his teammates.
Steelers cornerback, Arthur Maulet (#35) lines up on defense during a 2022 regular season game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 2, 2022. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The six-year veteran could be heard telling his teammates that you have to truly enjoy playing and not take advantage of your time on the field. He was apparently extremely disappointed after the game.
"No man, you’re losing like that and guys are laughing and smiling on the sidelines? It’s 38-3 and [people] are laughing on the bench? You have to love it," Maulet said.
We can all wonder exactly who was laughing on the bench, but it's really beside the point. It was a brutal loss and one of the storied franchise's worst ever. The fact that not all parties involved were ticked off is pretty shocking. The Steelers players should take losses like this personally. Linebacker, Myles Jack stood up for Maulet's actions and agreed with him.
"You want that,” Jack said. “Everyone reacts to different scenarios in different ways. You want emotion. You want fire. You want people to be [ticked] off. If everyone was in here laughing and giggling, it would be embarrassing."
Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker, Myles Jack (#51) participates during 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Jack continued talking about the subject saying that regardless of what was said, the team is all one unit and they need to remain united as they are clearly going through a tough stretch.
"If someone gets mad and wants to have an outburst, so be it. That’s how we’re going to deal with it. But at the end of the day, we’re sticking together as a team and we’re going to keep going. I don’t see us folding because of this. We’re going through growing pains right now."
The defense has been less than impressive since T.J. Watt injured his pectoral muscle and landed on IR in Week 1. The organization is now 0-8 in games that the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year does not play in throughout his career. When the leader of your defense goes down like that, others need to step up both on and off the field. Maulet may not be the best cornerback on the team, but his actions in the locker room afterwards speak volumes about his competitive spirit and desire to win.
What are your thoughts on Maulet's decision to call out some of his fellow Steelers teammates? Let us know in the comments below!
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