Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs rarely pulls punches when it’s time to talk. And he was talking plenty on Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.
The folks at 105.9 the X in Pittsburgh have posted the audio of the call online, and its worth a listen.
“Ravens-Steelers gets everybody’s piss hot,” Suggs said. “We know what this game’s about. F--k it. Let’s do it.”
Suggs said the Ravens are “expecting a lot” from the Steelers, given the Ravens’ 35-7 win over the Steelers in Week One, which prompted some in the media to declare the Steelers’ mini-dynasty over.
“I consider Heinz Field my Madison Square Garden,” Suggs said. “In my eyes, if you’re an opponent and you want to go into a hostile environment, what better than Heinz Field. . . . I don’t think there’s a player they hate more than me. But I love that.”
He expects “the most physical game of the year,” and that he’ll be “really disappointed” if Hines Ward (ankle) doesn’t play. “86 has gotta play. I need him personally play. For me. That’s when my piss will be definitely hot.” (Maybe Terrell needs to see a urologist.)
“We got our soldiers,” Suggs said. “We’ll be prepared for battle like [Steelers coach Mike Tomlin’s] will be.”
Suggs said that the Steelers are the “only team we consider having our hands full with,” given Pittsburgh’s ability to run the ball and pass the ball. “We’re built for them, they’re built for us, and I think we’re the only two teams that can play each other the way we do.”
Still, there’s one thing Suggs likes about the Steelers. He liked it when they hit Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday.
Even mortal enemies can find a small sliver of middle ground. Between these two teams, however, that’s about it.
“There’s the Super Bowl, and then there’s Ravens-Steelers,” Suggs said.
The Super Bowl will be on NBC in February. Ravens-Steelers gets started Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET.