Steel City Blitz
The Pittsburgh Steelers and All-Pro Linebacker T.J. Watt have agreed to a monumental three-year extension. The deal is worth $123 million and he will take home $108 million in guaranteed money. It’s the single largest deal ever for a non-quarterback. But now comes the hard part. Will Watt be able to live up to this?
There are two camps that have evolved throughout this negotiation. One suggests that the Steelers are paying Watt for what he’s already done. The other suggests that the team is paying him for what he will do. Personally, I don’t think it’s that simple.
Why can’t the team pay him for both? “We appreciate what you’ve done and we appreciate what you’re going to do too.” It’s that latter part that’s difficult. What kind of seasons will Watt need to produce for Steelers’ fans to say, “Yup. He was worth every penny?” We all know, if his numbers slip and he’s not having the type of impact we expect then there will be naysayers.
This October, Watt will turn 31 years old. For some players at some positions in the NFL this is still considered “young or middle aged.” For EDGE rushers, it’s very close to the end of their dominance. There are always exceptions and everyone one of us that proudly wears Black and Gold hopes Number 90 is one of those exceptions.
This was the risk for the Steelers. They know like we all do that age was an issue. But we also know there is another elephant (or two) in the room. Despite Watt’s illustrious career, he has yet to win a postseason game. He’s also yet to really make an impact in any of those games save for the fumble return for touchdown in the blowout loss to Kansas City.
I realize it isn’t fair to pin all of the team’s postseason failures on Watt. Football is the ultimate team game and plenty of other guys did their part get us on this dubious streak. When you’re the face of the franchise and a Defensive MVP candidate every year though, the focus is on you, fair or unfair.
… Regardless of what happens over the next few seasons, T.J. Watt will play his ass off and won’t make any excuses about the results. There will always be questions about “what if this or what if that” but he can control only so much. The Steelers have done right by him and he by them.
Now it’s time to see how it all works out.
The post Watt Gets His Bag From Steelers; Will It All Be Worth It? appeared first on Steel City Blitz.
