Second Thoughts

Watt's plot with Steeler: Make T.J. pay

Houston Texas defensive end J.J. Watt texted his former college teammate Antonio Brown after the Steelers
drafted T.J. Watt (left), asking Brown to make sure the Steelers treat his little brother rough.
Houston Texas defensive end J.J. Watt texted his former college teammate Antonio Brown after the Steelers drafted T.J. Watt (left), asking Brown to make sure the Steelers treat his little brother rough.

Apparently two NFL superstars could now be plotting against Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick T.J. Watt.

Watt's brother, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, said he texted Steelers receiver Antonio Brown with ways to treat T.J. like a rookie.

"Look over my brother, make sure to haze him a little extra for me," Watt said about his exchange with Brown who was his teammate at Central Michigan before Watt transferred to Wisconsin where T.J. also played.

T.J. Watt became the Steelers' fifth consecutive defensive player selected in the first round when the franchise took him 30th overall Thursday night. In his first full season as a defensive starter, Watt had 11.5 sacks and earned second-team All-America honors. The Watt brothers are Wisconsin's two most recent first-round picks on defense. Watt went 11th overall to Houston in 2011.

Speaking on a conference call with Pittsburgh media, J.J. Watt said his brother "plays with so much energy and passion" and will "only get better."

"He has such good instincts, such a good nose for the ball -- he's a natural playmaker," Watt said. "He's always been a natural athlete. He's always been a little bit more smooth [an athlete] than I was. He can make some moves and has natural abilities that didn't necessarily come as easily as it comes to me.

"But I don't want to say natural because I've seen the work. He plays the game with so much joy, and it's fun to watch."

T.J., 22, said he's ecstatic to play for a storied Steelers franchise and plans to emerge from his brother's large shadow on his own merit. General Manager Kevin Colbert sensed Watt was his own man during the pre-draft process.

NFL success has brought the brothers closer together, J.J., 28, said. Middle brother, Derek, 24, is a fullback for the Los Angeles Chargers.

"We realize we can use it to each other's advantage, appreciate the competition and the fun that we bring in each other's lives," J.J. said. "It's a blast to watch each other grow."

Wires crossed

Reuben Foster had to wait until the No. 31 selection to be picked by the San Francisco 49ers in Thursday night's NFL Draft, but the Alabama linebacker said he was almost a member of the New Orleans Saints.

And he had to juggle phone calls from both teams as the ordeal unfolded.

Foster said in a news conference Friday that he first received a call from the Saints late Thursday night, with the team informing him of its plan to take him with final selection of the night at the No. 32 slot.

But while he and his family were still on the line with the Saints, he then received a call from the 49ers. Foster's girlfriend was on the phone with the Saints at the time of the 49ers call. He said the Saints were welcoming her and his family.

"I told [49ers General Manager] John Lynch that it was too late. I said, 'man, coach, you have the 34th pick, it's too late. The New Orleans Saints about to get me.' "

But the 49ers had traded up with the Seattle Seahawks to move up to the penultimate pick of the round and take Foster. He said that he had been hoping to go to San Francisco.

As for whether it was awkward getting back on the phone with the Saints after learning his selection with the 49ers?

"No," Foster said with a laugh. "I hung up."

Sports quiz

What are the given names of J.J. Watt and his brother T.J.?

Sports answer

Justin James and Trent Jordan Watt

Sports on 04/29/2017

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