The Pittsburgh Steelers’ handling of T.J. Watt’s contract situation is a microcosm of their organization’s weaknesses. With Watt entering the final year of his deal, he wants an extension. If not, Watt may participate minimally at training camp and later games.
The Steelers will likely capitulate, offering two years at $35 million per. This is 100% the wrong thing to do. Watt’s performance has declined, with zero sacks in 10 of 18 games last season. At 30, he’s fading.
Watt’s desire for a new contract is based on reputation, not performance. The Steelers should evaluate his worth at the end of the season and decide whether to keep or franchise him. If Watt refuses to play without a new deal, they can let him sit. The team won’t win with him; in fact, it would be better off without Watt.
Extending Watt is reportedly a priority, but this decision will likely backfire. Fans may turn against the organization when they fail to make a playoff appearance for an eighth consecutive season. This is not about loyalty; it’s about what’s best for the team.
The Steelers’ willingness to extend Watt despite outside pressure and their own history of setting player values is concerning. They should prioritize their team’s interests over sentiment, as shown by the recent decision to cut Joey Bosa due to his declining performance.
Source: https://triblive.com/sports/mark-madden-steelers-would-be-wrong-to-extend-t-j-watts-contract-now-but-they-will