Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt is one of several players who have been fined for roughing the passer this season, and his older brother does not feel that the punishment fits the crime.
Shortly after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Watt has been fined just over $20,000 for a low hit on Matt Ryan last weekend, former Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt took to Twitter to defend his brother.
$20,000 for this?!?!?! https://t.co/9qkTAmjHvg
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 12, 2018
The hit was borderline, as Watt appeared to bail out at the last second and did not make solid contact with Ryan’s lower body. He did dive at the quarterback’s knees, however, and that type of play can be dangerous and has resulted in significant injuries in the past.
The Watt brothers aren’t the first defensive players to disagree with the new emphasis on roughing the passer penalties, but it seems more reasonable to throw a flag on that play from TJ than it did with some of the hits we saw from Clay Matthews.
