Steelers' Mike Tomlin sticks his neck out for T.J. Watt amid huge debate
T.J. Watt is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league. But the NFL is full of rare athletes, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And while Coach Tomlin is sure to acknowledge that, he thinks it's time to put some respect on T.J. Watt's name. The Best in The World “Let’s […]
T.J. Watt is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league.
But the NFL is full of rare athletes, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
And while Coach Tomlin is sure to acknowledge that, he thinks it's time to put some respect on T.J. Watt's name.
The Best in The World
“Let’s be honest: T.J. Watt is the best defensive player on the planet right now. He proves that week in and week out,” Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday when asked about the impact that Watt has on the team.
And while that statement may have come off as homerish, it appears the sportsbooks were listening, with a major adjustment in the Defensive Player of the Year odds just hours after Coach T's presser:
Per BetOnline.ag, Watt's odds jumped from +400 to +140 today, taking him from third place behind Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett to the pole position.
And while it would be cool to think Coach Tomlin had a role in that, it is likely due to the recent shoulder injury that Browns star Myles Garrett is dealing with.
But Coach Tomlin knew what he was doing when he said that. He may see T.J. every day, but he faces Myles Garrett twice a year and has plenty of respect for the man in Cleveland.
So maybe he just felt like stirring up the hornet's nest today. Or maybe he wanted to truly weigh in on the topic. But for as long as these two play, there will always be a debate on who really is the best defender in the league.
Mike Tomlin made sure to let everyone know what side of the fence he's on.
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