Despite Malicious Comments Former Steelers CB Arthur Maulet Praises Mike Tomlin

It came as a slight surprise when the Pittsburgh Steelers released cornerback Arthur Maulet in May. With training camp just a few weeks away, the slot cornerback position remains an area of concern. That's where Maulet spent most of his time over the past two seasons, so it makes the release even more interesting. Still, the Steelers suddenly have a somewhat clogged cornerback room after selecting two of them in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Maulet has spent six seasons in the NFL, with the past two of them with the black and gold. Now, he remains a free agent. He could still get an opportunity, especially when injuries start taking place in a month or two. The Memphis product appeared on NFL Network's Good Morning Football on Thursday. He's still looking for a new team, and in his appearance, he talked about his experiences with Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.

"I mean, honestly, it was an eye-opener. When I first signed there, they have this big board. We get into training camp, most of the time when you mess up, you wait until you get to individuals and they'll break it down. Mike Tomlin? No, everyone's gonna see it. If you're messing up, the whole team sees it. That shows the accountability to everybody and nobody's special. That's one thing that I really respect about Mike Tomlin."

The Steelers will always be one of the more attractive destinations in the league due to the rich tradition and history. With Tomlin at the helm, that holds even more true. In addition to being one of the best overall coaches in the league, players love being under the wing of Tomlin. The two sides didn't exactly separate in a kindly manner either, as there were disputes about his contract situation.

The difference in opinion on his contract led to Maulet asking for a release. The grass isn't always greener on the other side and if he hasn't found that out by now, he may in a few months if he's still unemployed. That wasn't it as far as the ugly divorce went, though. In a series of social media posts, the cornerback opted to trash the Steelers front office on his way out. 

Will former Steelers CB find a new home?

That couldn't have been a good look for teams around the league that may have considered signing him. Despite all of that, Maulet had nothing but nice things to say about his former head coach. In 2022, he played a career-high 481 defensive snaps for the Steelers, in addition to another 152 reps on special teams. Out of 118 qualifying cornerbacks, Maulet was ranked 90th by Pro Football Focus with a 56.5 overall grade. 

Run defense remains the best part of his game, as he talked about his physicality in that interview on GMFB. It's where he graded the best in 2022 as well, as he ranked 63rd of 109 CBs in run defense. Maulet has spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets in his NFL career so far. In 68 games, which has included 20 starts, the veteran has racked up 183 total tackles, three interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and 12 TFL.

Maulet turned 30 years old on Thursday in his appearance on Good Morning Football. After playing 45% of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps in 2022, it's hard to imagine him not getting at least an opportunity somewhere else. He has his deficiencies, particularly in coverage, but he still provides some value as a depth piece. His special teams contributions should help him as well, as that's normally a differentiator for guys on the fringe of the 53-man roster.

Were you surprised by the team's release of Maulet in May? Do you think the team could still use a true slot guy like him, or will a guy like Chandon Sullivan be an upgrade? Share your thoughts in the comments below, yinz!

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