TJ Watt's contract

[DesertSteel]

TJ's contract might go down as the worst extension in Steelers' history. He is no longer an impact player at the level he once was. It's really sad to see. He's still a good football player, but he doesn't wreck offenses anymore and isn't worth $40+ million a year.

I really don't think this is a hot take anymore, but a cold hard fact.

 

[Steeler Pride]

He was paid based on past production, which is a ridiculous way to pay players. The same can be said for Cam. Contracts should be based on future production, if a players doesn't like that...show them the door.

 

[steelcan58]

Watt was paid very well already for his past production. The fact he held out and put pressure on the front office to do this contract puts most of this on him. Watt's ego to be highest paid non QB and the Steelers stupidity is a bad combination

 

[Coryea]

The worst extension in Steelers history are the last 3 extensions Tomlin signed.

 

[Punxsutawney]

He was paid based on past production, which is a ridiculous way to pay players. The same can be said for Cam.

You can include Ramsey and Slay in that as well.

At least all the unjustified "Omar is a genius" talk from many fans should start dying down.

Yeah, I get it, he once swapped Chase Claypool for a high draft pick. Get over it.

He also proceeded to draft Joey Porter with it. Whoopty ******* doo.

 

[SteelerFan448]

He also proceeded to draft Joey Porter with it. Whoopty ******* doo.

If JPJ wasn't Joey Porter's son I don't think they make that pick.

As a fan, I love when great players retire with the team. From the business perspective, I said the Steelers should trade Watt. I don't think he's playing poorly, he's just no longer that game wrecker who dominates regardless of circumstances.

Here are the guys making $35+ million per year.

Micah Parsons 17 tackles 6 TFL 6.5 sacks 14 QB Hits
TJ Watt 31 tackles 5 TFL 4.0 sacks 11 QB Hits 1 INT 1 FF 4 PD
Myles Garrett 31 tackles 15 TFL 10.0 sacks 15 QB Hits 1 FF
Danielle Hunter 17 tackles 4 TFL 4.0 sacks 6 QB Hits 1 FF
Maxx Crosby 17 tackles 10 TFL 4.0 sacks 9 QB Hits 1 INT 5 PD

Watt aside, to get back to winning, the Steelers need to start running this organization like a football team and not a mom and pop shop.

 

[LeXX75]

Can we not say this about the entire overpaid defense

 

[madinsomniac]

TJ's contract might go down as the worst extension in Steelers' history. He is no longer an impact player at the level he once was. It's really sad to see. He's still a good football player, but he doesn't wreck offenses anymore and isn't worth $40+ million a year.

I really don't think this is a hot take anymore, but a cold hard fact.

Once more, guys like watt continue to put up numbers until between 35 and 38. This is why he had the record for most sacks before 30 until sunday but is absolutely no where close to the sacks record yet

You are confusing a predictable d scheme that lets teams double team him and play away from him with the player declining

 

[Drink IRON City]

Watt was paid very well already for his past production. The fact he held out and put pressure on the front office to do this contract puts most of this on him. Watt's ego to be highest paid non QB and the Steelers stupidity is a bad combination

Similar to retaining the current HC. You can bet the HC advocated for the Watt contract believing he needed Watt to help keep the “D” relevant. Same with “lip service” Cam, gave him a friendly contract extention based on production….. Cam is losing currently.



Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

If JPJ wasn't Joey Porter's son I don't think they make that pick.

As a fan, I love when great players retire with the team. From the business perspective, I said the Steelers should trade Watt. I don't think he's playing poorly, he's just no longer that game wrecker who dominates regardless of circumstances.

Here are the guys making $35+ million per year.

Micah Parsons 17 tackles 6 TFL 6.5 sacks 14 QB Hits
TJ Watt 31 tackles 5 TFL 4.0 sacks 11 QB Hits 1 INT 1 FF 4 PD
Myles Garrett 31 tackles 15 TFL 10.0 sacks 15 QB Hits 1 FF
Danielle Hunter 17 tackles 4 TFL 4.0 sacks 6 QB Hits 1 FF
Maxx Crosby 17 tackles 10 TFL 4.0 sacks 9 QB Hits 1 INT 5 PD

Watt aside, to get back to winning, the Steelers need to start running this organization like a football team and not a mom and pop shop.

Keep in mind that helmet swinger got 5 sacks Sunday. TJ is due as sacks come in bundles………



Salute the nation

 

[Sarge]

Watt lines up in the same place and does the same thing 95% of the time. Eventually, that gets easier to defend.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Once more, guys like watt continue to put up numbers until between 35 and 38. This is why he had the record for most sacks before 30 until sunday but is absolutely no where close to the sacks record yet

You are confusing a predictable d scheme that lets teams double team him and play away from him with the player declining

Is Watt a 14-15 sack player anymore? I would love to see it, but doubt it. He's on a bit of a decline.

 

[SteveA]

The refs, to me, recognize the dip in TJ…Has he even gotten a single holding call all year?

 

[madinsomniac]

Is Watt a 14-15 sack player anymore? I would love to see it, but doubt it. He's on a bit of a decline.

This is because teams are throwing the ball quicker than ever vs us and we arent jumping routes to discourage them. TJ still gets off the line in a flash, but you cant sack the qb in 1.25 seconds ... and because unlike Parsons and garrett and every other edge, all he does is play the RDE and ROLB position every down he is easily doubled... add to that our DL gets no pressure-so really he is getting all the double teams every down they arent just throwing a quick slant

 

[Drink IRON City]

Is Watt a 14-15 sack player anymore? I would love to see it, but doubt it. He's on a bit of a decline.

Near 1/2 way through the season he has 4, mathematics say no. I do realize sacks come in numbers……. So

Watt’s his number?




Salute the nation

 

[steelhurt]

I thought the genius Tomlin was suppose to move TJ around making him harder to defend.
I would think TJ would be receptive to that.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I thought the genius Tomlin was suppose to move TJ around making him harder to defend.
I would think TJ would be receptive to that.

Actually TJ’s on record saying he prefers his spot. He was a little hesitant when that “move” subject came up.

This is where a good DC would set the tone and execute what was best for the defense.

Could you imagine someone gaffing back to Dick LeBeau ?

Jack Lambert / Jack Ham / James Harrison are all better Steelers LBs than TJ Watt currently. What separates them is the Playoff Wins. YES, that counts. TJ may not be responsible for not winning a PO game, but he has played on losing PO games.

Your legacy is affected not just by your “in-season” play, but Post Season as well.



Salute the nation

 

[Fiji Mariner]

What about Tuitt or Patrick Queen
And why the hell is Queen chirping about shutting the Colts down after that embarrassment???

Dang there have been a lotta bad ones listed in this thread already

Sucks to suck

 

[insaniti]

Actually TJ’s on record saying he prefers his spot. He was a little hesitant when that “move” subject came up.

This is where a good DC would set the tone and execute what was best for the defense.

Could you imagine someone gaffing back to Dick LeBeau ?

Jack Lambert / Jack Ham / James Harrison are all better Steelers LBs than TJ Watt currently. What separates them is the Playoff Wins. YES, that counts. TJ may not be responsible for not winning a PO game, but he has played on losing PO games.

Your legacy is affected not just by your “in-season” play, but Post Season as well.



Salute the nation

He also said this year that he was willing to do whatever it took, even move around more. They started to the first few games, not a lot, but have since gone back to the status quo

 

[Drink IRON City]

He also said this year that he was willing to do whatever it took, even move around more. They started to the first few games, not a lot, but have since gone back to the status quo

Glad to hear that.!!! I know TJ is a good person and player / teammate .

I still hold true on the post-season comment as well.



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

This is because teams are throwing the ball quicker than ever vs us and we arent jumping routes to discourage them. TJ still gets off the line in a flash, but you cant sack the qb in 1.25 seconds ... and because unlike Parsons and garrett and every other edge, all he does is play the RDE and ROLB position every down he is easily doubled... add to that our DL gets no pressure-so really he is getting all the double teams every down they arent just throwing a quick slant

Offenses have adjusted, but I don't know, I'm watching TJ get stood up a bunch as well. He doesn't have the same burst and just isn't passing the eye test.

 

[xjx]

He got paid. He got soft. Can he take a blue pill?

 

[diver]

Watt lines up in the same place and does the same thing 95% of the time. Eventually, that gets easier.

That's true. But someone else has to win, and they are not. He often gets chipped, which means two guys are dedicated on some level to stopping him. Highsmith gets one guy. He isn't winning. Herbig gets one guy. He was winning, and now he isn't playing as much. Stupid. I wouldn't have paid Watt. Not anything against Watt, he is a great player. But teams scheme him out of relevance. $41 million window dressing bascially. I don't think he is done, either. It's just a shame.

 

[Badcat]

Teryl Austin is a dead man walking and will be scape-goated and fired after the inevitable collapse this season. With that being said, this defensive scheme of Tomlin's doing is old, tired, and predictable as is his offensive scheme of keeping games close and win with defense. You can't keep teams like the Pack or Indy hanging around when they have the players to put up big points fast.

Steeler Football 101; Put up a sizable lead, make them one dimensional, exhaust their defense with TOP. 3...2...1...win!

 

[Fiji Mariner]

That's true. But someone else has to win, and they are not. He often gets chipped, which means two guys are dedicated on some level to stopping him. Highsmith gets one guy. He isn't winning. Herbig gets one guy. He was winning, and now he isn't playing as much. Stupid. I wouldn't have paid Watt. Not anything against Watt, he is a great player. But teams scheme him out of relevance. $41 million window dressing bascially. I don't think he is done, either. It's just a shame.

It was and always is about getting above the Tomlin line, until there is significant change from the very top down. Rodgers would have been more apprehensive to join a squad he perceived as in rebuild mode. Moving Watt would definitely give that message. The Steelers have made their bed with this standard that accepts mediocrity, but absolutely fears the unknown and the possibility of falling below the Tomlin line. So the fans sit in this purgatory the ownership has created rather than doing what most see as a necessary risk and actually rebuilding with youth and a coach that willing to accept change and challenge required to bust through the mediocrity ceiling of the weak house they have built. So we will continue to get this average product until the fear of the unknown is overcome. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon.

For the record I would have moved Watt IF ownership had the guts to dive into the unknown and begin the much needed rebuild. This just isn’t in the cards for the fans anytime soon though.

Truly a shame indeed to accept mediocrity as a standard because one is crippled with fear of taking chances to achieve something better and accepting the risk of the growing pains to actually build a relevant future.

The Steelers retirement home for formerly good players will remain open for the foreseeable future.

Happy Groundhog’s Day.