{"id":55306,"date":"2025-06-12T02:45:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T02:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=55306"},"modified":"2025-06-12T02:45:58","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T02:45:58","slug":"breaking-steelers-mike-tomlin-addresses-t-j-watts-future-with-one-word-reply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=55306","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Addresses T.J. Watt’s Future With One-Word Reply.."},"content":{"rendered":"
T.J. Watt has totaled 58.5 sacks in four seasons. That includes 22.5 sacks in 2021. And now the Steelers star is ready for a new contract.<\/div>\n
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The impact T.J. Watt has had on the\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0defense over the last eight seasons? It’s tangible and measurable.<\/p>\n

Since his rookie contract extension, Watt has an extraordinary pass rushing resum\u00e9, having totaled 58.5 sacks in four seasons. That included 22.5 sacks in 2021, tying the single season record set by Michael Strahan.<\/p>\n

Watt is a frightening game-wrecker, a feared pass rusher in the\u00a0NFL, and a centerpiece of Pittsburgh’s playoff aspirations.<\/p>\n

And he’s not here.<\/p>\n

We could argue that he”s most important Steelers player of the last decade … a point that is magnified now as the six-time All-Pro linebacker will not be in attendance for the team’s mandatory minicamp this week.<\/p>\n

That means fines …<\/p>\n

His holdout will result in a series of fines for the three days of absence including $17,462 on Day 1, $34,925 on Day 2 and $52,381 on Day 3.<\/p>\n

That comes out to a total of $104,768.<\/p>\n

It also means the pursuit of a bigger number. Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett reset the market for defensive players earlier this offseason with an extension paying out $40 million per year.<\/p>\n

Watt’s exact asking price might not be that high. But an expected figure of over $30 million seems realistic.<\/p>\n

What’s coach Mike Tomlin have to say about all of this?<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly we\u2019d like him to be here but certainly not surprised about where we are,” he said. “We\u2019ve expressed a desire to get the business done. He has, as well. And so we\u2019ll continue to work. We\u2019ve been here before.\u201d<\/p>\n

The coach was also asked about if there is any\u00a0concern about T.J.’s future with the Steelers.<\/p>\n

“No,” he replied simply … which is as close to “relief” as Steelers fans are going to get on the subject right now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

T.J. Watt has totaled 58.5 sacks in four seasons. That includes 22.5 sacks in 2021. And now the Steelers star is ready for a new contract. The… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55310,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Steelers' Mike Tomlin Addresses T.J. Watt's Future With One-Word Reply.. - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=55306\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Steelers' Mike Tomlin Addresses T.J. 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