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J.J. Watt slams NFL fans as "idiots" over criticism of T.J. Watt's 'gator roll' tackle on Joe Burrow

During Sunday's victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt delivered a few hits on quarterback Joe Burrow. Watt was an effective edge rusher, recording two sacks in the Steelers' 44-38 shootout victory.

During one of Watt's hits, fans noticed that he used what appeared to be a "gator roll" kind of tackle. A "gator roll" tackle is where a defender holds onto a ball carrier's legs, rolling on them and putting pressure on the area, which usually forces the ball carrier down. It also has a high risk of injury.

While fans accused Watt of a dirty tackle, his brother J.J. Watt, a future Hall of Famer, came to his defense on "The Pat McAfee Show."

"There's some idiots out there," Watt said on Wednesday. "That's just, that's just the fact of life. And I just simply provided a nice, clean link to a Seattle Seahawks tackling drill. That was the exact tackle that he made right there, which is the way that NFL players are taught to tackle, to protect themselves and the person that they're tackling."

Watt continued:

"You don't want to hit guys too high, you don't want to hit guys too low, you don't want to hit guys too hard. You don't want to hit guys here and there. So what we have taught is a gator roll tackle, where you tackle at the waist, the upper legs, and you roll to get the guy down, to ensure he gets down. That is a picture perfect example of that. And if you want to cry about it, that's your own problem."

Here is the play that drew some criticism on T.J. Watt:

Could T.J. Watt take home another Defensive Player of the Year award?

Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals - Source: Getty
Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals - Source: Getty

After T.J. Watt's two-sack performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, he increased his odds of winning the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award.

He went from being +105 odds before Week 13 to -190 to win the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year after Week 13.

This season, Watt has 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 23 QB hits, 9.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three pass deflections.

Watt was named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year after tying the record for most sacks in a single season with 22.5. Do you think he has a chance of winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award?

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