Steelers: T.J. Watt can no longer stomach Pittsburgh's surprising streak
T.J. Watt is one of the best defenders and honestly, overall football players in the NFL. If individual accolades like DPOY (defensive player of the year) or three-time All-Pro don't prove that, then the Steelers' record of 59-26-2 with Watt in the lineup, as opposed to 1-10 in games when Watt doesn't play surely will. […]
T.J. Watt is one of the best defenders and honestly, overall football players in the NFL.
If individual accolades like DPOY (defensive player of the year) or three-time All-Pro don't prove that, then the Steelers' record of 59-26-2 with Watt in the lineup, as opposed to 1-10 in games when Watt doesn't play surely will.
Yet somehow, when games matter the most and Watt is on the field, both he and the Steelers have come up short:
Despite being tied for the most Super Bowls in NFL History, Pittsburgh hasn't sniffed a championship in nearly a decade and a half, with a bout of close calls, narrow defeats, and missed opportunities plaguing their recent playoff appearances.
T.J. Watt is sick of it:
"Obviously, I care about the regular season too, but being here, what, six years now and I don't have a playoff win, I mean it's not acceptable in any way," Watt told Mike Prisuta of 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh. "Obviously there's so much that goes into getting in a position to even do that but that's the ultimate goal and you can't shy away from wanting to be a Super Bowl Champion. That's everybody's goal, so I'm not going to talk about it.
Actions speak louder than words but T.J. Watt's past has proven he is a man of action. Never boastful in his goals or individual accomplishments, Watt is a gritty player despite coming from one of the best football families around.
Remember, this a guy who in the midst of a contract negotiation to set up the future of his life, told his own agent the negotiation was over, went into then GM Kevin Colbert's office, and signed the deal Pittsburgh offered, all so he could get back to training camp and end his holdout.
Talk about a team player.
"Is that something you think is a passion, like are you saying to guys, Hey, it's time?" Prisuta asked in regards to a deep playoff run:
"I think it's more of the older guys that have been here for a while that have been in the "drought" for a while if you want to call it that," answered Watt on behalf of the Steelers' lack of Super Bowl appearances. "I mean we're playing football in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania here, we're supposed to be winning football games late into the season in January and February and that hasn't been the case since I've been here. So you're damn right. We're trying to do everything possible to fix that."
Featured image via: © Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
