Many have criticized the voting results of this year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award won by Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams over Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, TJ Watt. I am not here to argue who should have won the award one way or the other (even though it should have been Watt). Both defensive players dominated all year and were undoubtedly the two most game-changing defensive players in the NFL this season.
There have been many people on social media saying that only Steelers fans are mad and that almost every other football fan believes Donald deserved the award. My main reaction is simply that the Steelers had the most dominant, all around, best defensive player in the National Football League this season. Double teamed or not, Watt was an absolute problem for opposing offensive lines.
If I could say anything to TJ Watt it would be: Pittsburgh loves you. We love watching your competitive edge each and every Sunday, your dominant edge rush, dynamic ability to constantly tackle running backs for a loss and overall once in a generation talent.
A Defensive Player of the Year Award is certainly something to strive for, but Pittsburgh and fans of the Steelers are not judging you off of these accolades. We judge you by the effort and leadership you provide on the field. We judge you by the heart and passion you play with. That is what matters to us most. The day you do win DPOY, we will be celebrating and congratulating you, but what is most important to us fans is your ability to impact the game on any given play and give the Steelers a chance to win week in and week out.
Steelers fans everywhere see you getting held every single play and the penalty flag never flying. We see you being an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. To me and I think I speak for most Steelers fans everywhere, the DPOY is an award we would love you to receive because you earned it; with that said, let everyone keep sleeping on you and your talents, and let's get you re-signed so you can wreak havoc for the Steelers defense for years to come.
Hoping the Steelers get a deal done to sign you long-term and sooner rather than later. I know that building a team and especially a defense around you will only result in competitive seasons year in and year out. Keep your head up TJ, you are Pittsburgh's defensive player of the year and we wouldn't want it any other way.
#SteelerNation
