Former Badger T.J. Watt has been in the midst of a contract dispute for months with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it seems to be going nowhere with only a couple of weeks left until training camp. On Tuesday, Senior ESPN Insider Adam Schefter provided an update on the contract talks, which was downright pessimistic: "They’re far apart right now."
Adam Schefter joined the ESPN Show, "Unsportsmanlike," to discuss all things NFL with training camp right around the corner. The Steelers begin their training camp on July 23rd, which is just a couple of weeks away. They may have to do it without their star player. There are even some rumors of trades being lobbied towards Pittsburgh for Watt, though Schefter doesn't think that will happen.
T.J. Watt and the Steelers are far apart right now, according to Schefter
"“They’re far apart right now, and there have been other teams that have mulled the idea that maybe they would approach the Pittsburgh Steelers about a trade. The Steelers have zero intention of trading him, but something has to give. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t say, ‘We want to keep this guy!' that badly and then be far apart in the contract.”"Adam Schefter
It's not a good update for Steelers fans, but even for T.J. Watt fans and those in Wisconsin, who look on hoping for a mega deal for their former star, it seems as if that news isn't anywhere close. If it continues to remain at a standstill, don't be surprised to see Watt not at training camp, and then does the standstill push into the season?
Watt is listed as the second-best pass rusher currently playing in the NFL. The Steelers need him, but they will need to find a way to make his contract work for both Watt and Pittsburgh.