J.J. Watt says a lot without saying anything at all regarding the contract negotiations between T.J. Watt and the Steelers
OTAs have started for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and T.J. Watt is still nowhere to be found. But on Wednesday, his brother, and future NFL Hall of Famer, J.J. Watt, was a co-host on the Pat McAfee Show. And while he wouldn't say a ton about the negotiations between his brother and the Steelers, he said […]
OTAs have started for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and T.J. Watt is still nowhere to be found.
But on Wednesday, his brother, and future NFL Hall of Famer, J.J. Watt, was a co-host on the Pat McAfee Show.
And while he wouldn't say a ton about the negotiations between his brother and the Steelers, he said something even more telling…
J.J. Watt keeps things tight-lipped regarding T.J. Watt's contract negotiations
"I have a lot of information on that subject," J.J. Watt said on the Pat McAfee Show. "That's not my subject to discuss…
"Taking care of your guys earlier does a few things for you. Number one, it gets them locked in a lower price in the long run. I mean, you look at what prices are doing every single year, you get them locked in a lower price. Number two, you're keeping them happy. Ownership & front offices obviously treat this like a business but they don't like it when the players treat it like a business … If you can take care of your guys earlier, you should do that."
While J.J. Watt didn't directly say it, he is letting you know that had the Steelers locked up Watt last year, they wouldn't have this debacle. They wouldn't have to now pay him north of the $40m that Myles Garrett received this offseason.
Paying him before he approaches the final year of his contract would have saved them from the distraction that having your best player not attend OTAs is creating. Shoot, from me writing this very article.
Instead, the Steelers have been playing this game of cat and mouse, where they stick to waiting on training camp or after to extend players, and even longer if said player is now at the age and stage of his career that Watt is.
So, when does this situation end? My guess is training camp. Just before, to be exact. Maybe it happens as soon as before mandatory minicamp on June 10th, or maybe it takes until the start of the season though.
Because one thing we know about the Steelers this year, is that they aren't sure of what they will do.
