“This s**t’s hard!” JJ Watt VEHEMENTLY calls out the media for ganging up on the rookies at OTAs
Watt said one practice session doesn't define a player's abilities.
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JJ Watt (Image Via Yahoo Sports)
If you are a rookie, you will make mistakes, and that is what’s supposed to make you grow. JJ Watt, one of the NFL’s all-time great rushers, had this to say in defense of new players adjusting to life in the cruel environment of football. Even with his legacy as one of the best, Watt himself has faced the woes of being a rookie.
Watt, during his playing days for the Texans, was a constant menace. He became the NFL’s defensive player of the Year three times early in his career. However, he gradually started to drop off playing fewer and fewer games, eventually retiring in 2022 while being contracted to the Arizona Cardinals.
Since his retirement, the 34-year-old has been quite vocal about the media being too pushy with players, especially rookies. Watt posted a video of him seemingly going on a rant about how the media is overreacting to one practice session mistake in OTA from a rookie.
“‘Rookie has rough practice in his first week of OTAs.’ Yeah, that’s called being a rookie. It’s called the first week of OTAs,” Watt said in the video.
He went on to say that he too, had tough times during practice sessions when he was playing. “I’ve had rough games. I’ve had multiple rough games. S**t’s hard. It’s the National Football League!” Watt exclaimed angrily.
Moreover, he emphasized why newer players find it so hard to cope with the harsh environment of the NFL. His target was those who were quick to judge a rookie just by one bad session. “This is part of the reason why it is tough for guys (rookies) to develop. Because we are judging everybody on every single individual rep every single day.”
Is Watt talking about Titans Will Levis?
Although not certain, he could quite possibly be talking about Tennessee Titans rookie Will Levis. The 24-year-old had a tough practice session last Wednesday. However, he is determined not to beat himself up because of it. “I know I have more opportunities tomorrow and the next day, so I’m not going to beat myself up,” Levis said after the practice.
Levis had a rough time during his first OTA, as his accuracy was off and he fumbled a snap. Accuracy was one of the key areas of focus for him, and he even practiced with ex-NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer before the draft.
The Titans picked up Levis after they were impressed by his multiple throws during the rookie minicamp in May 2023. Titans QB coach Charles London said, “Will’s done a good job of coming in and going to work.” He also emphasized that Levi’s style of play suits the Titans, as he came from a similar setup while playing for Kentucky.
Even though the Titans seemed pleased with Levis, the media, who are always tough on new players, think otherwise. Former players like JJ Watt, who have been in similar shoes as Levis, have shown support. Watt said that he understands that the NFL is not just a game but also a business, and teams want their investment to be fruitful. But he also highlighted that people expect greatness right from the start, and that’s not how things work.
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)