First of all, we’re not talking about the Associated Press choosing defender Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams as Defense of the Year Player over the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt. The vote was very tight and could have been anyway. Both players have had elite seasons and should be applauded for that.
But, as NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala points out, it’s time to stop linking TJ to his older brother JJ Watt and let his game and career go on its own. What Watt has done in the past two seasons has been worthy of DPOY, and the fact that he shares DNA with the Texans’ defensive side has nothing to do with it.
It really minimizes your accomplishments when you can’t mention him without reminding everyone who your big brother is, as if that has something to do with the fact that he is an elite player.