Place to mature: It came as no shock when linebacker T.J. Watt spoke about successful the Steelers MVP award for the second-straight year on Thursday, the initial thing he did was give credit score to his teammates.
It is par for the study course for Watt, who generally shies absent from having credit history and instead deflects it to the expertise around him.
“I am extremely appreciative of my teammates and coaches for voting me group MVP,” reported Watt. “Really distinctive honor for me simply because it’s my teammates and friends, men and women I am all around on a standard basis. Really lucky to perform alongside these guys and none of it is doable without having them.
“This award is incredibly essential to me since it truly is the people that see me on a standard foundation, the function that I put in not only on the subject but off the subject. I am just really grateful the men considered ample of me to vote me MVP, but it genuinely is a crew award. We are all below, and I am right here to earn a Super Bowl.
“I come to feel like I have a great deal far more to do continue to. I experience like I have a ton much more area to expand.”
When successful the Steelers’ MVP is a large honor, it shouldn’t be the only just one that will come Watt’s way this calendar year.
Watt is possessing an additional time that has a lot of talking about him currently being the NFL’s Defensive Participant of the Calendar year. Watt, who was voted to the Pro Bowl for the 2nd time, qualified prospects the NFL in sacks with a occupation-substantial 15, quarterback hits with 41 and tackles for a loss with 23, while including 53 tackles, 43 of them solo stops, seven move defenses, two pressured fumbles and an interception.
He is the 3rd player in the NFL to file at minimum 15 sacks, 23 tackles for decline and 40 quarterback hits in the very last 15 seasons. Watt’s older brother, Texans defensive stop J.J. Watt (2012, 2014 and 2015) and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (2018) also attained the feat and received NFL Defensive Participant of the Calendar year.
It really is an award he is far more than familiar with, attending the NFL Honors show 4 instances, 3 to look at his brother J.J. get the award, and very last calendar year when he was in the discussion for the award himself.
“I have been to that award demonstrate, three to four moments,” stated Watt. “I notify men and women each individual time I went, I would always go away much more determined than when I walked in the setting up. That is going from when I was in significant college and he received the 1st award and in university. Even very last yr when I didn’t get the award, it’s so specific to be surrounded by your peers who are the elite of the elite in the Nationwide Soccer League. It really is distinctive organization to be close to. Just to be up for the award, none of that is even up still, I feel it just actually great to be in that conversation. Winning it is some thing for a diverse day. I am just trying to get better every and each individual working day. I am not content.”
Watt acquired a plug for the award just lately from previous Steelers Corridor of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene in his last job interview before he lately handed absent. Greene spoke with Morten Andersen on his ‘Great Dane Nation’ podcast and praised Watt.
“He appears, to me, to be the most entire linebacker in the NFL correct now, whether or not inside or exterior,” claimed Greene in the job interview. “He rushes, plays the run tough, drops in protection, hunts people with a hunter’s heart. I truly like the way he is playing, and I say that about Khalil Mack and Von Miller or any of all those fellas, or any of the inside guys you could mention. I know I am a Steeler – and probably I am becoming a small prejudiced there – but I really like him and the way he operates.”
Watt explained individuals shared Greene’s opinions with him and it intended a lot to hear what he experienced to say.
“Quite special,” reported Watt. “I failed to see it at the time, but I have viewed it the previous couple of times, folks sending the video to me. Just listening to a person who was the best at what they did at the time. A Corridor of Fame participant. It’s magnificent to listen to anyone say that. It truly is my obligation to keep that close of the deal up, continue to keep participating in and retain carrying out. I just want to leave a legacy here, not individually but as a group. A dude like that remaining a hell of a legacy. To hear somebody say that about you, it truly is magnificent but it is really also a whole whole lot of obligation I am keen to consider on.”
Watt is on speed to break the Steelers solitary period sack file, presently sitting down at 15 sacks, just a single shy of tying James Harrison’s record of 16 sacks set in 2008, and 1 and a 50 % away from breaking it with one particular video game still left. But whether or not he plays on Sunday from the Browns, a video game where Mentor Mike Tomlin has only indicated that Ben Roethlisberger will sit, is nonetheless to be viewed. He mentioned no one has talked to him about that however.
“All of people decisions are way previously mentioned my pay back quality,” reported Watt. “Correct now, I am working towards like I ordinarily do and what ever the coaches choose, it is their conclusion. Clearly, I would enjoy to enjoy.”