LATROBE, Penn. – Like always, T.J. Watt expects the rigors of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp will come with a night out with teammates at Sharky’s Café, the popular sports bar minutes away from St. Vincent College.
After all, some traditions never get old. And with the Steelers descending on the quaint Catholic school for training camp for the 58th year, Sharky’s is just the place to break the monotony of summer practices…while munching on chicken wings.
“All the traditions, that makes this place special,” Watt said Wednesday, shortly after checking into the Steelers camp with a fresh, three-year contract worth $123 million.
One guess who’ll be springing for the tab at Sharky’s. And then some.
“Yeah, I’ll be picking up the check for quite some time,” Watt, 30, confirmed. “I’ve got no problem doing that.”
It’s no wonder. Watt’s historic deal averages $41 million, which tops the $40 million-per-year figure for Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett and makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. The contract has $108 million guaranteed and came with a $40 million signing bonus.
That mega deal is some kind of calling card for the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year. And it begs for comparative context.
Consider T.J.’s big brother, J.J. During his 12-year NFL career, J.J. Watt earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and collected $129.7 million in compensation.
That T.J. nearly matched his brother’s career earnings with the extension signed last week prompted a hilarious reaction from J.J.
In a post on X, J.J. posted, “I swear if this guy ever lets me begin to reach for my wallet at dinner…”
T.J. chuckled when reminded on J.J.’s social media dig.
“We’ve always had really good banter,” he said. “J.J.’s covered the checks for a lot of my life. I have no problem repaying the favor, but he’s done pretty damn well for himself.”
All joking aside, Watt’s big contract invites a huge question reflective with the huge hole in his impressive NFL resume.
Will Watt, heading into his ninth NFL season, finally help the Steelers win a playoff game? For all of his achievements – Watt was the second-fastest player in NFL history to notch 100 sacks, a pace bettered only by the great Reggie White – he’s still seeking his first NFL playoff victory as Pittsburgh has won all of zero playoff games since 2016.
“I think staying healthy is a huge thing. Rotating. Staying fresh,” Watt said, when someone asked what needs to happen for Pittsburgh to avoid its recent pattern of late-season swoons. “I think it’s the way we approach practice and everything. Everything you do is contagious, one way or another. So, I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can be, day in and day out.”
No, it’s never all on one player, even one as gifted as Watt. Yet having him in the fold from the start of camp undoubtedly eliminates the possibility of a major distraction that might have dampened the “all-in” buzz that exists after such an eye-popping offseason.
Pittsburgh lured Aaron Rodgers as a free agent, plus swung trades that landed star wideout DK Metcalf, premier cornerback Jalen Ramsey and versatile tight end Jonnu Smith. The Steelers added play-making cornerback Darius Slay and crafty receiver Robert Woods. The draft brought defensive end Derrick Harmon and a promising running back in Kaleb Johnson.
After such an aggressive offseason, not coming to camp without sealing the deal with Watt – the negotiations lingered for months – would have been a bad look.
Sure, it’s business. And after Garrett struck a deal with the Browns, topping the contract that Maxx Crosby signed with the Las Vegas Raiders that is worth $35.5 million per year, the market for edge rushers keeps escalating.
And it’s likely that Watt’s “highest-paid” tag comes with a short shelf life, with Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons next in line for a new deal.
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While Parsons reported to Cowboys camp without a new contract, the drama has dominated the early stages of camp – much like the (since-resolved) cases of Dak Prescott and Cee Dee Lamb put a drag on Dallas’ camp last year.
No, there’s no circus in Steelers camp, at least not when it comes to contract matters. After swinging all the big offseason moves, GM Omar Khan sure checked that other crucial box in coming to terms with Watt’s agents.
How do you spell relief?
“Certainly, we’re glad that the business component of it is done and he’s here and ready to work,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after putting the squad through its annual conditioning test to open camp. “But I don’t know about the relief component of it.
“I just know when two sides are properly motivated – him wanting to be here and us wanting him here – it was a matter of time before it worked out. I think the speed in which it happened, once they really got focused and serious, is reflective of that.”
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Watt heard all of the rumblings during the offseason, as the negotiations dragged on. Some of it seemed absurd, like suggestions the Steelers would put their defensive centerpiece on the trade block. There was also a theory that Watt wouldn’t sign until Garrett and Crosby’s deals were done to set the market, which is, well, what happened.
A few months ago, Watt – who didn’t participate in the offseason workout program and skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp — posted a cryptic message on Instagram. It was a photo of himself in a Steelers uniform, flashing a peace sign.
“Sometimes, it’s just fun to have fun with the narratives out there,” Watt said. “I’m very in-tuned with what’s going on in negotiations and how things are going. It’s fun to see what all you guys are writing, thinking that things are one way and they’re completely a different way. So, sometimes it’s fun.”
Well, it’s all business now for Watt. And given his contract and the expectations, it’s pretty big business.
Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: On X: @JarrettBell
On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social