Last February, Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt skipped the NFL Honors after he learned he would not win the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Award. After finding out, Watt would post an Instagram story of himself out and about in the city while posting on X, 'Nothing I’m not used to.'
Instead, the award when Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, who posted an impressive season in his own right as the reason the Browns defense soared to become one of the NFL’s best units.
Watt had the statistics to back up his case with 19 sacks. He racked up 36 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and eight passes defended. The support for Garrett came from his pressure rate and pass rush win rate.
On Tuesday, Garrett was asked about Watt’s reaction to losing the award, and said that he never complained about losing out when he thought he should have won, so Watt should not feel anything about it, either.
“I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house, and vice versa, he shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me,” Garrett said. “We’re just gonna play the game. I don’t play against T.J. He doesn’t play against me. We’re playing to do what we’re supposed to, go out and do what we’re supposed to, win the game and dominate on defense.”
Watt has certainly moved on from the snub and often declares that he does not care about individual accomplishments while the season is ongoing. His focus this week is all on Cleveland and not about that.
However, Garrett and others were rubbed the wrong way. Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons laid out a case after the fact of why Garrett should have won the award, citing pressures and pass rush win rate. However, the two now get to prove it on the field this week.
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