WATT VS. GARRETT

Here's an excerpt from my latest TribLive.com column:

If you want to blame individuals, blame T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and DK Metcalf.

Yeah, Watt got the strip sack that led to Nick Herbig’s touchdown. He passed his brother J.J. in all-time sacks, which only matters to the Watts.

But T.J. has seven sacks on the season, tied for 16th in the NFL. Myles Garrett had three sacks Sunday and Cleveland actually won. (The Browns just needed to start playing Shedeur Sanders.)

T.J. signed a three-year extension worth $123 million. He’s not providing proper bang for the buck. (Garrett is. Watt got a bit more money, but Garrett has a lot more sacks: A league-high 18. Watt’s single-season record of 22½ is in Garrett’s sights.)

Heyward has 1½ sacks after holding in and whining about being underpaid. For a second straight year. He’s not going to reach his face-saving, okey-doke bonuses.

Metcalf has 42 catches for 573 yards. That’s tied for 48th and 31st in the NFL, respectively. He drops balls and chronically commits offensive pass interference and stinks at combat catches. That’s after inking a four-year extension worth $132 million.

Place blame squarely on the big-money bozos who don’t do enough.

That includes Mike Tomlin, who makes $16 million per year.

To read more, click HERE.

Watt's performance merits further review because of his contract demands.

When Watt got his latest extension this past off-season, Watt insisted on being paid more than Garrett. The average annual value of Watt's contract is $41 million. Garrett's AAV is $40 million.

Now Watt is a shadow of what Garrett is.

Garrett has 18 sacks. He needs five sacks in Cleveland's remaining six games to break Watt's single-season NFL record of 22½ sacks.

I'd rather have $40 million and a lot more sacks than $41 million and a lot fewer sacks. Watt got his payday, then started playing worse and watched Garrett slingshot past him.

Giving Watt that extension was a mistake. One of many made recently by the Steelers.

Garrett will be remembered as one of the best defensive players of all time.

Watt will be remembered for never winning a playoff game.