AFC Notes: Patriots, Ravens, Steelers

Patriots

New Patriots FB Danny Vitale knows that he has a large role to fill following the retirement of longtime New England FB James Develin.

โ€œItโ€™s definitely some pretty dang big shoes to fill,โ€ Vitale said, via NBC Sports. โ€œJames is a hell of a player. Iโ€™ve enjoyed watching him, really since I got into the league now. He was really a role model at the position, which as a fullback, a lot of people donโ€™t typically notice how important that role can be. I think it was pretty clear how important James was to this Patriot team over the last however many years. Definitely have some really big shoes to fill, but Iโ€™m really looking forward to that opportunity, as well as working with a lot of the other guys. So, yeah, it will be fun.โ€

Ravens

With no other offers coming his way in free agency, LB Pernell McPhee re-signed with the Ravens on a one-year deal and is returning to Baltimore with a vengeance and the goal of winning a Super Bowl.

โ€œIโ€™ve just come back to win this championship, thatโ€™s all I want to do,โ€ McPhee said, via Clifton Brown of BaltimoreRavens.com โ€œWe lost to Tennessee for a reason. I think itโ€™s going to light a fire under a lot of guys on the team. If it donโ€™t, they donโ€™t need to be on the team, but I know it will. 2020 is going to be very special.โ€

McPhee is fired up about the additions of defensive linemen Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell. He is also attempting to curve his profanity in an attempt to step up as a team leader. Most importantly, McPhee is looking for payback against the 31 other teams who were uninterested in bringing him on board.

โ€œI asked my agent to reach out to other teams,โ€ McPhee said. โ€œNobody, of course, didnโ€™t want me. Itโ€™s cool though. It lit something. Thereโ€™s going to be a time when I catch whoever I catch. I guess itโ€™s going to be the Cincinnati Bengals. Snatch one of their souls out their chest โ€“ in a good way.โ€

Steelers

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is concerned about the ability of his incoming rookie class to be ready for the 2020 season.

โ€œTheir ability to contribute, their ability to gain significant roles and to maintain those significant roles are gonna be challenging in these circumstances, more challenging than normal,โ€ Tomlin said, via Jalen McCain. โ€œAnd I think throughout the course of this journey, weโ€™re all going to realize how significant or maybe insignificant that is. Iโ€™m working my tail off with the Pittsburgh Steeler rookies to make it as insignificant as possible.โ€

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