T.J. Watt proposed to Dani Rhodes, a professional soccer and his girlfriend of five years, two weeks ago. And if that old rule about spending at least two months salary on an engagement ring still applies, Watt was smart to pop the question when he did.
The reigning team MVP for the Steelers reported to Pittsburgh with the rest of his teammates and took part in the first practice of training camp Thursday. Watt’s participation was limited to individual drills, but the defending NFL sack leader attributed that to being cautious with his body more than 50 days before the regular season starts.
Watt indicated he’s not injured, and that he’s not holding back anything because he enters the last year of his rookie contract. Set to play for just over $10 million on his fifth-year option, Watt could become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history by the time the Steelers and Bills kick off Sept. 12 — but he’s not there yet. And, apparently, staying home in Wisconsin until he has a long-term contract extension never crossed his mind.
“No, I love this team,” Watt said Thursday after practice. “I love all the coaches and the staff here and the players. I’m excited to be here and that’s what I’m here for.”
Does that mean he’s confident he’ll be signed past 2021 come Week 1?
“That’s not for me to say,” Watt replied, basically echoing his comments from last time he spoke on the subject a month ago at minicamp. “That’s pretty much all I’ll say about it.”
The Steelers have a longstanding club policy to not negotiate any contracts once a new season begins. That puts a hard-and-fast deadline in place for them with their best player, a 27-year-old outside linebacker that they nailed with their first-round pick back in 2017. While they’ve never been an organization to get caught up in overpaying players, even those perceived to be superstars, they also believe in drafting and developing, and Watt is a slam-dunk success story.
When the rest of the league reports to camp within the next week or so, surely a couple players here and there will either hold themselves out of practice, or not show up at all. With Watt, the Steelers don’t have to worry about that.
“It doesn't tell me anything I didn’t already know about T.J. Watt,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “What more can you say about him that hasn’t already been said? I’m sure that process will run its course and we’ll have something to report.”
But money matters are always delicate. Watt insists he’s here because he loves the franchise, which may well be true. Giving that franchise leverage at the bargaining table isn’t advisable, though. So, when he was asked again later about whether he expects to be here for the foreseeable future — and whether he wants to be here — Watt didn’t tip his hand in the slightest.
“I love Pittsburgh. Obviously, I would love to be here. But all of those decisions aren't really mine to be made,” Watt said.
Geez, T.J., are you at least hopeful that you’ll get a deal done soon?
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said.
As hard as it is to keep Watt out of the pocket, it’s just as tough to get a splashy quote.
