The Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to swap Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey was a seismic move in an offseason full of them for General Manager Omar Khan. There is no doubt that Ramsey is still one of the more impactful defensive backs in the NFL, and Fitzpatrick was both expensive and lacking in big plays in recent years.
Even though the move makes sense on the field in many ways, recent reports about the All-Pro's falling out with the Miami Dolphins are concerning, to say the least. In an article from the New York Post, details first revealed by the Sun Sentinel laid out why the move became a necessity for the Dolphins.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Jalen Ramsey could become an issue in the locker room
The report mentioned several major issues that Ramsey caused for the Dolphins coaching staff, ranging from being late to practice to even undermining head coach Mike McDaniel and former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
That attitude spread throughout the locker room, leading to many of the issues that plagued Miami last season. Even a player of Ramsey's caliber cannot be allowed to instigate issues between coaches and players, and it's the type of attitude that has been the downfall of many teams throughout NFL history.
Now that Ramsey is a Steeler, perhaps those issues will subside due to Mike Tomlin's influence and the high-end leadership present in the locker room. Not to defend his alleged actions in Miami, but Mike McDaniel doesn't command the same respect and admiration that Tomlin has earned over his long career.
The Dolphins also lacked the veteran leadership that Pittsburgh has in spades. Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt alone should be enough to keep Ramsey in check as the unquestioned leaders of the team. There weren't any players like that in Miami to reign him in, which I believe was a huge factor in how he was able to get away with his antics.
Despite all of the safeguards the Steelers have in place, fans should be wary of Ramsey's attitude influencing the younger players on the roster. He has been around long enough that many of his teammates may have grown up watching him, and what he says and does will hold weight with them.
Hopefully, the team's leadership is ready to crush any potential issues.
