It only stands to reason that, in the wake of the unfortunate broken leg sufferd by star Lions pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, the desperate eyes of Detroiters turn to perhaps the best available free agent on the market.
That would be JJ Watt, the soon-to-be Hall of Fame pass rusher who managed five Pro Bowl seasons despite fighting injuries throughout the back half of his 12-year career. Watt retired after the 2022 season, when he recorded 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals.
At age 35, Watt is still tied in with the NFL as an analyst on CBS. But he could certainly suit up for a half-season with an NFL team and give a solid accounting of himself.
Two days after Watt responded on Twitter/X to Lions fans imploring him to come to Detroit, he appeared on the "Pat McAfee Show" and again was implored by Lions fan and show employee Evan Fox.
"You saw what Kyle Van Noy's doing straight from the couch," Fox said. "And I know you know you can do that. Detroit needs you, you can be a hero. We can have a statue of JJ Watt, all you have to do is join the Detroit Lions."
So McAfee put it to Watt: Yea or nay on a Motown stint?
Watt conceded the thought occured to him. But he said it stopped there. He's happy sticking with retirement.
"It's a great team and a great setup," Watt said. "I don't bulls--- you, you definitely sit there and think about things, think about all sorts of things. I mean it's a great situation up there. They check a lot of boxes, they have a lot of great things going on up there. There's no doubt.
"I'm just really enjoying retired life, I am not going to lie to you. It's pretty sweet."
"DETROIT NEEDS YOU" ~ @evanfoxy
"It's a great situation up there but I'm just really enjoying retired life" ~ @JJWatt #PMSLive https://t.co/B4PIzeGOKm pic.twitter.com/VrzTBv67Zw— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 16, 2024
