Steelers' TJ Watt Risks 2023 Season On Careless And Dangerous Offseason Activity Endorsed By His Enabling Big Brother JJ

*Disclaimer - The title of this story is sarcasm.*

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had their fair share of unusual injuries over the years. Minkah Fitzpatrick missed time in training camp last season because of a wrist injury he suffered while on vacation. Kendall Simmons got frostbite while watching a Monday Night Football game at home. Ben Roethlisberger missed time with appendicitis and then nearly killed himself on a motorcycle.

The Steelers’ best current player is TJ Watt. He might be the most important non-quarterback in the entire NFL. Pittsburgh was 8-2 last year in games Watt played and they were 1-6 without him in the lineup. During his NFL career, Watt has missed 11 games, they are 1-10 in those games. He was the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and his return to good health is one of the main reasons that the Steelers could return to the AFC playoffs in 2023.

The Steelers’ entire 2023 season was put in jeopardy when Watt took a foolish chance with his health. On Thursday, the All-Pro who earns an annual salary of $28 million dollars per year, stepped into his backyard without any protective gear and began cleaning his swimming pool. Watt not only did not don protective gear, but he was also operating without any trained supervision. If he had consulted a professional, he would have known that attempting to open a pool before the Memorial Day weekend is an unnecessary risk.

The Watt family has turned into a cottage industry in the NFL with brothers JJ and Derek Watt also playing professionally, but none of the brothers or their parents have a background in swimming pool maintenance. In fact, despite all three-attending college, none of them, according to exhaustive research elected to major in the design or maintenance of what the Beverly Hillbillies fondly called cement ponds.

Watt, in an inspiring act of contrition, shared his debacle with the public on social media, to show that he was fine after his nearly season-ending slip and fall. His brother JJ Watt showed surprisingly little concern for his brother’s dilemma and chastised him publicly for being late to work at his own home.

Steelers' TJ Watt Will Not Get A Chance To Play With His Legendary Brother Who Is Now Retired

The callous disregard for his brother's health is shocking. All the elder Watt seems interested in is that his younger brother pack up his equipment and get to his house toot sweet to get his pool ready to swim in and enjoy. Perhaps it is a ploy since his younger brother is on pace to shatter his career sack record. Jealousy can be a very real motivator. It could also be the greed of saving a few dollars by employing his brother on a family discount to keep his pool clean.

It is important to plan for life after football and some players attend broadcasting seminars to prepare for careers in the media after football. Others return to college to complete degrees in fields they are interested in pursuing when their playing days are over. The Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker is using his time during the offseason to practice for a future career in the upkeep of swimming pools.

Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin will likely have to step in and encourage Watt to table his current ambitions until after he stops playing professional football. The maintenance and care of swimming pools should be left to the professionals who risk their lives daily to ensure that the PH balance is correct and that debris is not present in the water. Watt will just have to be content with getting his thrills on the football field for now. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Can you tell that this was just a bit of fun at the best defensive player on the planet's expense? Please comment below, or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.