Steelers Star TJ Watt Target Of Cringeworthy Comments By Cowboys' Micah Parsons

Many believe Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher, TJ Watt was snubbed by the Associated Press for the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award on Thursday night at the NFL Honors. Despite leading Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns in basically every major statistical category, the AP voters decided to award Garrett as DPOY. A distant third place finish went to Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. Garrett finished with 165 total points, Watt finished with 140, and Parsons finished with 89. Instead of focusing on himself, Parsons decided to take to social media and made multiple posts on X.com that threw shade toward Watt.

Parsons started the night by defending Garrett with the following post.

In this one, Parsons decided to go after notorious Steelers fan, Jersey Jerry of Barstool Sports. Jersey Jerry rightfully sounded off about Watt being snubbed and Parsons decided to give his two cents on the issue. Parsons deciding to bash fans for looking at stats is an odd take from a player. Especially one that is due for a contract extension this summer. He also went with the new narrative that double-team rate, a stat made famous by Pro Football Focus, is somehow more important than actually sacking the quarterback. Odd, but that was just the start for Parsons.

Steelers' TJ Watt Catches A Stray Shot

Next, Parsons threw a direct shot at Watt.

I’m sure Parsons will walk back this comment at some point, but it is pretty cut and dry. Parsons is clearly referring to Watt as a sore loser, presumably for skipping the NFL Honors Awards Show altogether. Surely, there are no posts from 2023 where Parsons felt slighted by the AP voters as well, right?

Oh wait, there’s one. The irony of Parsons agreeing with retired NFL star JJ Watt, brother of TJ Watt, just writes itself. Clearly, Parsons was ticked off by the AP All-Pro Team announcement, where Garrett and Watt were named First Team All-Pro over him. So the same voters that he agreed with last night, were the target of his post. Funny how that works. I’m sure JJ Watt won’t be a fan of the way Parsons posted last night, and it would not be shocking if JJ Watt used his platform as a member of the media to respond in some capacity. 

A Paper Trail Of Tears

Back to Parsons, he has become known as an outspoken player across the league. He has his own podcast called The Edge With Micah Parsons. This is a weekly podcast where he discusses his team's game that week and usually, has a headline-catching comment. This year, one that really blew up, was him complaining about the officiating after a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

That sure seems like being a sore loser. Blaming the officiating is probably the number two play in any sore loser’s playbook. Number one would be throwing your teammates under the bus following a playoff loss. But, a non-sore loser like Parsons would never do that. Right?

That quote was following the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers to end the 2022-23 season. That reads like a direct shot at his teammates and their performance following a playoff loss. Some leadership. 

This was not Parsons’ last example of being a sore loser on that same night. Following the loss, Parsons jumped on Instagram and left a comment on a post made by 49ers star Deebo Samuel. 

There are many more examples of Parsons complaining after games and going after players of opposing teams, but Watt is the sore loser for skipping an awards show for being outrageously snubbed?

A Look Ahead to The 2024 Season

Steeler Nation will have an opportunity to show Parsons how upset they are with his comments this fall, as the Steelers are slated to host the Cowboys. Hopefully, Watt, his teammates, and the fans will remember these boneheaded remarks, and can make it a rough day for him and the Cowboys.

What do you think? Did Parsons go too far? Let us know in the comments below. 

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