T.J. Watt skipped the NFL Honors ceremony at Las Vegas in February when he learned he wouldn’t be winning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Cleveland’s Myles Garrett got that award. Garrett took Watt’s no-show as a slight, and said so.
When the Steelers visited Cleveland on Nov. 21, the Browns posted a 24-19 upset win.
Watt was almost invisible: one tackle for loss.
Garrett posted three sacks, a forced fumble, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. He was dominant. Afterward, Garrett proclaimed himself the best edge player in football.
Watt and Garrett are never on the field against each other.
But Watt should nonetheless take what happened in that game personally. That’s how Garrett took Watt’s snub. It motivated.
Watt had a terrific game at Cincinnati last Sunday: two sacks, a forced fumble, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits.
Watt needs to perform similarly in this Sunday’s game against Cleveland at Acrisure Stadium.
Garrett embarrassed Watt at Cleveland.
Watt needs to best Garrett this time around.
Otherwise, perhaps Garrett really is the best edge player in football.
