Garrett: Watt shouldn't feel '2 ways' after losing 2023 DPOY race

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is eager to play against T.J. Watt after he felt disrespected by the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker when he was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in February.

Watt, who didn't attend the league's annual awards ceremony out of protest, posted a tweet on X that got plenty of attention after Garrett won the award. The Steelers standout was previously named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year.

"I've never complained about the trophy not being at my house and vice versa," Garrett said Tuesday, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "He shouldn't be feeling two ways about knowing it's going to me. So just going to play the game. I don't play against T.J., he doesn't play against me. We'll have a plan to go out and do what we're supposed to, win the game and dominate on defense. It's up for grabs this year, and we'll see the best man win."

The five-time Pro Bowler is using Watt's slight as motivation ahead of Thursday's matchup.

"Two of the very best in the same division, play each other twice a year. Fans hate each other," Garrett said. That kind of stuff gets you excited. I know we both feel it and get a little bit juiced up for the matchup."

Garrett took home the DPOY after garnering 23 first-place votes for 165 points. Watt picked up 19 first-place votes (140 points) to finish second. Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, and Maxx Crosby were the other finalists for the coveted trophy.

The Browns All-Pro pass-rusher recorded 17 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles last season. Watt led the NFL with 19 sacks and 19 TFLs, four forced fumbles and an interception in 2023.

Garrett hasn't spoken with Watt since the Steelers star sent the tweet but hopes that changes this week. "He's going to have to apologize when I see him," Garrett said. The Browns pass-rusher says that while he and Watt aren't exactly friends, he respects T.J. and his brother J.J. Watt as advocates of the game.

Watt provided a diplomatic response to Garrett's remarks.

"I have respect for everybody in the league," Watt said Tuesday, according to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "Obviously, (he's) a guy who has been a top pass rusher in the league for a long time. But I don’t compete directly against him. It’s our team versus their team, and at the end of the day, I just want the Pittsburgh Steelers to come out with a win.”

With the 2024 campaign at the halfway mark, Garrett and Watt are again poised to jockey for the DPOY award. Watt holds a slight lead in sacks with 7.5 compared to Garrett's 7 ahead of Thursday's contest in Cleveland.