This space recently proclaimed that to justify a contract extension that pays $41 million per season, Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt has to make first-team All-Pro, finish top three in Defensive Player of the Year voting and help the Steelers win a playoff game.
If the Steelers win a playoff game, Watt can slide a bit on the rest.
That’s a big “if.”
Kyle Long of CBS Sports said that Watt could be a top-three Steeler all-time if he wins a Super Bowl.
That’s another big “if.”
Long also suggested that the Steelers might erect a statue of Watt.
There’s no statue of four-time Super Bowl champ Mean Joe Greene, the top Steeler ever. But let’s immortalize thusly somebody that’s never even won a playoff game.
Watt’s place among the franchise’s hierarchy is an interesting discussion.
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The notion of Watt being a top-three Steeler all-time is recency bias dipped in abject stupidity.
That’s not insulting Watt. The list of all-time Steelers is fast company.
Six Steelers were clearly better on the defensive side of the ball.
Greene is ground zero for Steelers greatness. Also obviously superior to Watt: Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Troy Polamalu, Rod Woodson.
We could compare honors and stats between Watt and those listed, but there’s no need. They’re just better. They’re all in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Their credentials are impeccable. Greene, Blount, Ham and Lambert each have four Super Bowl rings, Polamalu has two and Woodson has one (won with Baltimore).
James Harrison ranks ahead of Watt, too, though it’s close.
Harrison and Watt each won Defensive Player of the Year.
Harrison made first-team All-Pro twice, Watt four times. Each made second-team All-Pro twice.
Harrison was more bruising and intimidating, Watt faster and more dynamic.
But Harrison won two rings. He made perhaps the greatest play in Super Bowl history, his 99-yard interception return touchdown when the Steelers beat Arizona, 27-23, in Super Bowl XLIII.
That gives Harrison the nod.
Add in offensive standouts like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Ben Roethlisberger, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, etc., and Watt’s lucky if he’s a top-15 Steeler.
That won’t get him a statue.
Watt is 0-4 in playoff games, totaling one sack. Outside of a scoop-and-score in a 42-21 wild-card loss that ended the Steelers’ 2021 campaign, Watt has done little in the postseason. He had no stats at all in last season’s 28-14 wild-card playoff loss to Baltimore.
The Steelers’ defense has given up 28, 42, 48 and 45 points in Watt’s four playoff defeats. That’s an average of almost 41 points per game.
That’s not all Watt’s fault. But he’s out there, too.
You can’t be a Steelers’ all-time great without winning in the playoffs. Without performing well in the playoffs. Watt has done neither.
Being a no-ring guy drastically dilutes being a one-helmet guy.
Watt could change all that “if” he wins a Super Bowl. The Steelers are all in, don’t forget.
Who would you rather have in a playoff game, Watt or T.J. McConnell? T.J. vs. T.J.
McConnell sparkled in this year’s NBA Finals, averaging 12 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.1 steals coming off the bench, He got longshot consideration for Finals MVP. The Chartiers Valley grad had 16 points in Indiana’s Game 7 loss at Oklahoma City.
Watt pulled a Mr. Blutarsky at Baltimore: All zeroes.
Watt is better at his sport than McConnell is at his.
But McConnell has that clutch gene.
If Watt wants to put himself among the likes of Greene, Polamalu, etc., he needs to find it.
Otherwise, Watt is just another rich football player.