Former Steelers linebacker Melvin Ingram spoke with the media on Thursday for the first time since his trade from Pittsburgh to Kansas City.
Having had the option to sign with the Chiefs before training camp, Ingram was asked why signing in Kansas City didn’t work out the first time around.
“I don’t know, I guess God always (has) a plan, and he brings you where he wants to bring you when he wants to bring you,” Ingram said.
Ingram didn’t expand on the misunderstanding between what the Steelers wanted his role to be and what he thought his role would be, only saying it was different.
“The situation was kind of different. I don’t want to tell a lie. It was kind of different. It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. It was a dope situation.”
As if Ingram’s entire time in Pittsburgh wasn’t a big enough misunderstanding, when asked his take on Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s hostages comment, Ingram didn’t comprehend.
“I don’t know what he means,” Ingram said. “You should probably ask him what he meant. I don’t know. I ain’t never been a hostage.”
What else Melvin Ingram doesn’t know — and why would he? — is that ‘We need volunteers, not hostages’ is a Tomlinism that dates back to the fun times of disgruntled holdout Le’Veon Bell. It’s a line that Tomlin has since used repeatedly about Antonio Brown, Steven Nelson, and, most recently, Ingram.
Ingram praised Tomlin and the Steelers, saying he respects all of them and it was “a blessing” to be in Pittsburgh.
“We need volunteers— not hostages” Mike Tomlin refreshingly honest on Bell and game ready to beat the Ravens #Steelers pic.twitter.com/zDzFe8nsU5
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) November 4, 2018
