The Houston Texans are 4-11 and a game away from their dismal 2020 season from being over.
Coming off a 37-31 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium, one would think that defensive end J.J. Watt would be ready to get upfield to the offseason and regroup.
Instead, the loss to the Bengals stung, and it was his sympathy for Houston sports fans that got him the most.
“We’re professional athletes getting paid a whole lot of money,” Watt said. “If you can’t come in and put work in in the building, go out to the practice field and work hard and do your lifts and do what you’re supposed to do, you should not be here. This is a job. We are getting paid a whole lot of money.”
The concept of working class individuals spending their hard-earned money and precious time on a team that has yet to reach an AFC Championship Game since its 2002 inception impacted Watt.
“They care every single week,” said Watt. “We’re in Week 16 and we’re 4-11 and there’s fans that watched this game, that show up to the stadium, that put in time and energy and effort and care about this.
“So if you can’t go out there and you can’t work out, you can’t show up on time, you can’t practice, you can’t want to go out there and win, you shouldn’t be here, because this is a privilege. It’s the greatest job in the world. You get to go out and play a game.”
This is awesome. pic.twitter.com/gbhJHSXnMw
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 27, 2020
The Texans will face the Tennessee Titans, who will go to the playoffs, next Sunday at NRG Stadium for the 2020 finale. If players can’t get up to play the Titans, Watt will be severely disappointed.
Said Watt: “There are people every week that still tweet you, that still come up to you and say, hey, we’re still rooting for you, we’re still behind you. They have no reason whatsoever to. We stink. But they care, and they still want to win and they still want you to be great. That’s why.
“Those people aren’t getting paid. We’re getting paid handsomely. That’s why. And that’s — that’s who I feel the most bad for is our fans and the people who care so deeply and the city and the people who love it and who truly want it to be great. And it’s not. And that sucks as a player, to know that we’re not giving them what they deserve.”
If the Texans can harness that passion Watt has and take it into 2021, they may be able to give Houston sports fans something to be proud of.