'Bad Odor' Jalen Ramsey Behavior Alleged After Steelers Trade from Dolphins

The Pittsburgh Steelers headlined the biggest blockbuster move of this offseason trading for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey after he and the Miami Dolphins had settled on seeking a trade just a year removed from his new contract.

Pittsburgh acquires a proven star that solidifies their secondary as one of the best in the league while Miami will import a recovering Fitzpatrick, but face a major loss on the boundary defensively.

One Dolphins writer, however, emphasizes that there are other aspects of Ramsey's time in South Beach that will not be missed.

"Let’s start here: The Miami Dolphins won’t miss cornerback Jalen Ramsey,” Sun Sentinel writer Dave Hyde said. “They won’t miss him regularly showing up late to practice as the rest of the team was in the middle of stretching.

"They won’t miss how he constantly undermined defensive coordinator Vic Fangio two years ago and coach Mike McDaniel last season in a manner that spread like a bad odor through the larger team.”

Hyde added some scrutiny on the Dolphins for trading Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh in the first place back in 2019 and ridiculed the front office for signing up for the risk that was Ramsey. He also mentioned that it's at least good that Miami got $23 million off the books for this season on Ramsey's three-year, $72.3 million deal.

Another aspect of this deal was dynamic tight end Jonnu Smith getting shipped to the Steel City in exchange for extra draft capital. Smith could have been thrown in as a sweetener to mitigate Ramsey's alleged stench and his loaded contract.

It's unclear whether that was the case or not, but Pittsburgh clearly has to have had some idea about Ramsey's attitude reputation amid his messy relations with the Dolphins leading up to the trade. Nonetheless, this is a bombshell report that makes fans question how tensions will be in the Steelers locker room.

The Steelers already shook up the offseason by trading temperamental wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in a move that gave up on any hope of his maturity. Pickens is just 24 ... but inheriting Ramsey, 31, is a bit different with regards to changing his ways.

Ramsey remains an elite-caliber player despite his age. That performance on the field, however, will only do so much if it's muddled down by distractions from a toxic working relationship with the team.

Ramsey may clean up whatever was acting out in Miami now that he has a change of scenery and got a slight pay raise. Pittsburgh is sure hoping this is the case, at least.

Pittsburgh also welcomes new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a polarizing personality that faces plenty scrutiny of his own from his apparent attention-seeking motives and odd psychological practices.

The Steelers have clearly succumbed to a "win-now" philosophy that has driven them to pursue proven veterans with the hopes of contending in the AFC.

That is, if they can freshen up whatever negative energy might waft through the locker room this season.