Mark Madden's Hot Take: No-showing NFL Honors bad look for Steelers' T.J. Watt

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, this past Thursday’s NFL Honors show was an evening of triumph and perceived tragedy.

The triumph was Cameron Heyward being given the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in recognition of off-the-field community service. Heyward is a thoroughly good man who has given back from his earliest opportunity. Bravo and well done.

The perceived tragedy was T.J. Watt not getting NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That honor went to Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, who had far inferior stats.

Watt got robbed. But compared to the grand larceny of Wayne Gretzky getting NHL MVP in 1988-89 despite having 31 less points (all goals) than Mario Lemieux, Garrett’s smash-and-grab job is petty theft.

That debacle taught Lemieux to judge himself by championships and stats.

The former is difficult for Watt. He’s never even won a playoff game, let alone a Super Bowl.

But Watt led the NFL in sacks this season, and in two of the previous three. That’s tangible. That’s got to be reward enough.

Watt is understandably mad.

But skipping the NFL Honors show — apparently because he had learned he wasn’t going to win — is more than a bit immature. Watt went to Las Vegas specifically to attend.

“Nothing I’m not used to.” That’s what Watt posted on X even before Garrett was announced as the winner.

Watt got Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. So, being snubbed isn’t something Watt is totally used to.

Watt should have attended in support of Heyward.

Watt should have congratulated Garrett. Watt no-showing could be construed as disrespecting Garrett. Garrett didn’t declare himself the winner. He didn’t get a vote. It’s not Garrett’s fault.

But Watt’s a baby. His actions confirm, and not for the first time.

Had Watt won the award and Garrett ditched the ceremony in petulance, Steelers fans would be unleashing ridicule.

The NFL Honors show created more than one tempest in a teapot.

Some were chapped that Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco got Comeback Player of the Year over Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin, a Pitt and Central Catholic product, suffered cardiac arrest during a game Jan. 2, 2023. He came back and played this past season, registering two tackles in five games.

Flacco, 38, jumped off his couch to join the Browns after injury wrecked their quarterback room. He started five regular-season games, winning four, and got Cleveland into the playoffs. Flacco threw multiple touchdowns in each of his five regular-season starts.

Hamlin is alive, thank heaven. But he barely got on the field in 2023. Buffalo might have cut Hamlin if not for his circumstance.

Flacco came back and prospered. He didn’t just survive. He deserves his award.