Let me start by saying: Get paid. If you’re a pro athlete, get paid when you can because as we all know, once that kind of money is no longer coming it, it ain’t coming back.
Today was the end of “Watt Watch”:
source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021
He’s signing with the Arizona Cardinals for $31 million over 2 years. $23 million is guaranteed. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JJ WATT TAKING THE BIG PAY DAY. I don’t have any issue with a player (especially at his age) getting the money while they still can. He’s 32 & there are lots of questions about his body holding up. Congrats on getting paid JJ! For a guy who’s made over $100,000,000 in his career, people thought the “I want a title” message may have actually been legit with Watt.
Guess what? It was a lie. But like The Million Dollar Man Said….
I hope that plays when Watt walks out of the tunnel.
There were plenty of other teams that are a GOOD pass rusher away from contending for a Superbowl. And just a little bit of me thought Watt would take less, go for the ring as he can see the end of his Hall of Fame career winding down but…nope. Watt is like every other athlete ever: He wanted money (and maybe warm weather). This isn’t new. Every star not named “Tom Brady” takes the big paycheck to the detriment of their own team. Brees, Rodgers, even Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is dirt cheap for Kansas City right now but once that half a BILLION dollar contract kicks in, watch the rest of the Chiefs roster suffer. It’s what’s happening in Green Bay RIGHT NOW…but more on my Packers later. Tom Brady is the only superstar in the NFL who takes less money so his team can spend on other players. It’s one of the many reasons the GOAT has 7 rings.
Athletes lie to you all the time. Stop believing that they’ll take less money to win. The Cardinals went from 45-1 to win it all to 30 -1 today. Not great. The were projected to win 8.8 games next year and now after the Watt announcement, they’re projected to win 9.2. THAT’S LESS THAN HALF A GAME IMPROVEMENT. Watt isn’t the defensive player of the year like he was in 2015 (and 2014, 2012). He’s not a game changer. He’s a good player that could put a real contender over the top with his presence on the field and off. This team isn’t ready to win right now but…it’s not about a ring for JJ Watt right now. It’s about getting PAID. And by the way, the Rams got better this offseason. The 49ers will almost surely be better this season (assuming the QB situation gets sorted out). And the Seahawks will get better (or Russell Wilson is gonna be MAD). JJ Watt went to the toughest division in football to chase that ring…yeah, right. He took the most money he could get.
JJ Watt took the big payday and why shouldn’t he? But Arizona?? The Arizona Cardinals were 8-8 last year. They didn’t make the playoffs. They had an identical record as the Chicago Bears. (are the Bears a “JJ WATT” away from contending?) They were 13th in total defense, 10th in pass defense, 22nd vs the rush and 12th in points allowed. I’m sure he’ll improve those numbers but this wasn’t a terrible defense. Was this an arms race move by the Cardinals to keep up with the Rams & 49ers who boast Joey Bosa & Aaron Donald? (sorry, Seahawks). Is he the missing piece? AZ could lose Linebackers Hasson Reddick & Markus Golden so maybe this is to help fill those holes? Ummm…seems like an expensive and risky move for THIS version of JJ Watt. Defensive Back Patrick Peterson is gone too, by the way.
As a Green Bay Packer fan i was about 50/50 on both Watt WANTING as a Packer and believing that Watt WOULD be a Packer. Green Bay is in salary cap hell. They’re currently well OVER the cap. I won’t bore you with my fandom for the green & gold right now, but it would’ve been really nice to see the kid from Wisconsin go home & play for the team that he grew up watching but…he didn’t. Watt was the most double teamed edge rusher in the NFL last season and Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith was #2. Put them together and that would’ve been awesome but I’m good with Green Bay NOT cutting players to free up $23,000,000. That’s insane for THIS version of JJ Watt.
Good luck to JJ Watt in Arizona. FUN FACT: Arizona plays Houston (and Green Bay) in 2021. I feel bad for Deshaun Watson (if he’s there) or whoever is playing quarterback for the Texans that week.
~mw
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