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Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt Fined by NFL for Violation He Did Not Even Commit

Published 02/21/2022, 12:08 PM EST

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One can never imagine the severity of the consequences of a joke. Nonetheless, it can also lead to some hilarious consequences that are unimaginable. If you are TJ Watt, Steelers outside linebacker, you know the consequences of making a petty joke.

Watt made a recent appearance on the show “Pardon My Take. During the show, he mentioned a funny incident, which led the NFL to fine him ten grand. Watt said, “I received a fine for saying it jokingly in an interview this year……. I jokingly said that I checked my phone at halftime of the Baltimore game, and the NFL took it as a real saying and fined me $10,000.”

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However, he claimed he had only said it jokingly and didn’t actually do it. Nevertheless, Watt received a $10,000 fine from the NFL after the remarks reached their ears.

TJ Watt stomps on his own foot

Earlier, in January, the Defensive Player of the Year appeared for an interview on “The Dan Patrick Show.” Watt commented that he checked his phone at halftime of the Steelers’ Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Watt checked his phone to determine if the sack he recorded during the first half broke his single-season record.

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The NFL rule prohibits players from using phones during the 90 minutes before the game until the end of the game. Though Watt didn’t seem to comment in a jokey manner, he tried everything at his defense. However, the NFL did not buy any of his later made remarks and issued him a ten grand fine.

Watt would be just fine

Although the 10 grand may sound a hefty sum to an ordinary person, for TJ it is barely a half percent of his entire contract. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Watt to a 4-year, $112 million contract extension, with $80 million in guarantees, before the season began. Additionally, the contract makes him the highest-paid defensive player in the league.

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Therefore, a fine like that might not bother him at all. Nevertheless, Watt did make a joke that might be one of the costliest of all time.

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Written by:

Anubhav

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Anubhav is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently majoring in computer science at the University of Delhi, having also previously worked as a content editor for an NGO. Anubhav is a basketball enthusiast and a true Los Angeles Lakers fan.
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