T.J. Watt started it.
He knew exactly what would happen.
And he did it, anyway.
This is suddenly a very disruptive offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They said goodbye to two "starting quarterbacks'' in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, in part to make room for Aaron Rodgers ...
Why isn't here yet.
They said hello to D.K. Metcalf via a blockbuster trade that seems all positive ... unless incumbent No. 1 receiver George Pickens decides it's not.
And now?
Watt, the perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and top star on the Steelers posted a "peace out'' photo of himself on social media ... leaving the viewer to assume that he might be ready to move on from the Steelers.
Unless ...
You know.
Ian Rapoport made the obvious assumption even more clear on Thursday morning on "Good Morning Football.''
"Generally, when a player makes a social media post that forces us to talk about it on TV like we’re doing right now, it’s because contract negotiations are not going as well as anybody had hoped," Rapoport said. "I think we can safely say that contract negotiations between T.J. Watt and the Steelers are not off to a rip-roaring start. Doesn’t mean they won’t get there; they’ve gotten there before. He is a great player who deserves every penny."
Rap Sheet's opinion on what Watt "deserves'' is worth arguing. He's under contract.
And ...
Watt will be 31 years old this season and is coming off a year where he struggled down the stretch during Pittsburgh's run to the playoffs. While he did record 11.5 sacks and finished as an All-Pro, there is justifiable concern in the Steel City that Watt's best playing days are behind him.
Should the Steelers look to move their defensive legend, though, there's no guarantee that there will be many takers. Watt carries a cap hit of over $30 million this season and will need a new deal moving forward.
That new deal figures to be, in terms of his ask, $40 million per year. .. and $160 million total.
Do you give that to a guy in his 30's? Do you make him play it out? Do you call his bluff and try to trade him?
The contract talks sound like a nightmare. A trade would be the same.
Whatever the case, this rather tumultuous offseason just a bit more troublesome for the Steelers.
