Latest news with #JJWatt
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10 hours ago
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Wisconsin football legend JJ Watt sends powerful message to Badgers before 2025 season
The post Wisconsin football legend JJ Watt sends powerful message to Badgers before 2025 season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Wisconsin football legend JJ Watt gave a powerful message to the 2025 Badgers team during a recent visit. Watt is one of the greatest defensive linemen ever, and he really began to gain his outstanding form in Madison. It all came together for the Pewaukee, Wisconsin native in 2010, where he was named a First-team All-American and won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, given to college football's defensive college football player of the year. That team ended up being co-Big Ten champions and went on to play in the Rose Bowl. Advertisement The Badgers went on to play in 'The Granddaddy of Them All' for three consecutive years, marking a very successful era for the program. Those years, however, feel long gone right now. Luke Fickell, who is coming off a terrific tenure at Cincinnati, has struggled to gain his footing with Wisconsin football through two seasons. He now heads into a critical third year where the program needs to show some results. Getting an alumnus like Watt to speak to the team is undoubtedly an encouraging move, and the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year didn't mince words on what this program means to so many people. Luke Fickell will have to navigate a daunting schedule to have a productive 2025 season Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The schedule doesn't get any easier for Wisconsin football in 2025. The Badgers have two manageable nonconference matchups before paying a visit to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama. Right after that game, Luke Fickell's team begins its Big Ten slate, which includes visits to Michigan, Oregon, and Indiana, as well as home clashes against Ohio State and Illinois. There's a chance all of those teams are ranked, with several of them being legit College Football Playoff contenders. Advertisement Former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. is expected to be the starter in Madison for the 2025 season. The quarterback position has been an area of concern for this program in recent years. If Edwards Jr. can turn this position into a strength, the Badgers have a chance to surprise a lot of people. Despite the tempered expectations nationally, Wisconsin football expects to see some significant progress from Luke Fickell and company. The pressure is slowly mounting on the third-year head coach, but it's always great for the vibes to have a legendary figure like JJ Watt around. Related: Way-too-early Big 12 football power rankings for 2025 season Related: Auburn football wide receiver in hot water after arrest
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a day ago
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Micah Parsons takes note of shade from Jerry Jones
Micah Parsons should not have shown up for training camp. Owner Jerry Jones is going to lowball him. Guaranteed. And the only way to avoid it would have been to stay away. Micah seems to realize it. He re-posted a tweet from J.J. Watt criticizing Jones for comments he made on Monday, during which he justified concerns about paying Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott by pointing to time they missed due to injury in 2024. "Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're gonna have him," Jones said regarding Parsons. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two thirds of the year. Dak Prescott. So there's a lot of things you could think about when you're — just as the player does — when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money." For starters, Jones exaggerated the extent of the absences. Parsons missed four games with a high-ankle sprain, not six. Also, Prescott missed nine of 17 games (52.9 percent, not 66.667 percent) with a hamstring injury. More important: Who gives a shit? Players get injured. You don't lowball them because they might get injured. THEY DO. That's the point of contracts that give them protection against injury. Without those protections, teams will be far more inclined to screw them. As Watt put it, "Anytime you can publicly take a dig at your star quarterback and your star pass rusher simultaneously, right before the season begins, you just gotta take it… Nothing makes guys want to fight for you more than hearing how upset you are that they got hurt while fighting for you." Although the CBA is structured to make it much harder for a player to walk out after he shows up, Parsons may have to do it in order to get the best possible deal. If he doesn't, Jones WILL lowball him and, if Micah doesn't take the last, best offer, the Cowboys WILL kick the can until 2026. If that happens, Parsons should demand a trade after the season to a team that will pay him what he's worth, and that won't use the inevitability of injury against him. Meanwhile, Cowboys fans, is it really a mystery as to why your team hasn't made it to the NFC Championship for 30 years and counting?
Yahoo
a day ago
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Super Bowl Champion Bryan Braman Dies at 38
Super Bowl Champion Bryan Braman Dies at 38 originally appeared on Men's Fitness. Former NFL player Bryan Braman has died at 38, his agent Sean Stellato confirmed. Braman spent seven years in the NFL, playing for the Texans and Eagles. He was part of the Eagles team that won Super Bowl 52. In February, Braman was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of life-threatening cancer and was undergoing treatment, as USA Today reported. A GoFundMe page revealed Braman had multiple surgeries during his treatment in Seattle. The fundraiser surpassed $88,000, with former teammate J.J. Watt donating $10,000. Duane Brown donated $2,500 and Brian Cushing donated $1,000. Unfortunately, Stellato confirmed news of his death on July 17."Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was big as his body," Stellato told KPRC 2 in Houston. "His spirit was so motivating. He was so real and genuine with everybody. That made him special. "It's hard. I feel like I lost my firstborn. This kid, he gave me his bed every time I came to Philadelphia. He would threaten me if I didn't stay with him. That's something I'll always cherish. My heart hurts today." Along with Stellato, the NFL community is mourning the loss of Braman. "I didn't intend on crying this morning. Then I read the news on my teammate, Bryan Braman. Love you Braman. You lived a hard life, and you never complained about it. A champion in life and a warrior in death," Emmanuel Acho wrote on X. "Rest in Peace brother. Gone far too soon," JJ Watt Bowl Champion Bryan Braman Dies at 38 first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jul 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
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3 days ago
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Former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champ LB Dead At 38
The Philadelphia Eagles have been able to win two Super Bowls in the past eight seasons, each with different head coaches. While some parts of the team haven't changed, like general manager Howie Roseman, many players on the Eagles roster have since come and gone. Yet, Super Bowl winners remain champions forever, and that remains true for former Eagles linebacker Bryan Braman, who helped Philadelphia win the Lombardi Trophy in 2017. Unfortunately, Braman recently passed away due to a rare and aggressive form of cancer that he had only just been diagnosed with in February. His GoFundMe page, which had raised over $89,000 for Braman's various medical expenses, indicated the 38-year-old Spokane, Washington, native had to undergo multiple surgeries for his treatment in Seattle. Former teammate J.J. Watt was among the donors, chipping in $10,000 to his former teammate's efforts. Braman's agent, Sean Stellato (who also represents New York Giants QB Tommy DeVito), confirmed Braman's death. 'Bryan, people saw this enormous human being, but his heart was big as his body, His spirit was so motivating. He was so real and genuine with everybody. That made him special. It's hard. I feel like I lost my firstborn. This kid, he gave me his bed every time I came to Philadelphia. He would threaten me if I didn't stay with him. That's something I'll always cherish. My heart hurts today.' Braman entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M in 2011 and had to work for every opportunity thereafter. Though, he was able to show enough to land on the Houston Texans as a rookie where he quickly carved out a role as a key special teamer. By his second season, Braman had become a Pro Bowl alternate for his special skills. Braman spent three seasons with the Texans before inking a two-year, $3.15 million contract with the Eagles in 2014. He'd later sign a contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2017 but never appeared in a game for them after being placed on injured reserve that same season. However, Braman was able to return to health by December, where he latched back on with the Eagles and later helped them win Super Bowl LII. Braman leaves behind two daughters, ages 11 and 8. 'You look at his journey and beating the odds to make it to the NFL after going undrafted,' Stellato said. 'Not only making it, but producing and becoming a world champion, he had a real hard journey. In life, we all run this race. To die at age 38, the game of football and his family are hurting today. He was a staple for what football and underdogs are about.' Related: Related Headlines Expert: Phillies, Mets and Tigers Have Prospects to Battle for Three-Time All-Star at Trade Deadline 'High-Risk, High-Reward': Why Rob Manfred is Bypassing Union Leadership to Court Players Double Payday: Damian Lillard Gets $70M From Blazers and Bucks While Missing 2025-26 Season Show Them The Money: Five Pass Rushers Set to Cash In After T.J. Watt's Record Deal
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5 days ago
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Wisconsin legend J.J. Watt reacts to brother T.J.'s record contract extension
Wisconsin great T.J. Watt became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history on Thursday. The standout edge rusher signed a three-year, $123 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a whopping $108 million fully guaranteed at signing. The contract extends his current deal, which was set to expire after the 2025 season. Its $41 million average annual value narrowly edges the contracts of Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million) and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ($40 million). The former Badger star has become one of the best pass-rushers of this generation. He has 108 sacks, 126 tackles for loss and 225 quarterback hits in eight full years in the league. His best outputs include a 22.5-sack Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2021 and a 19-sack 2023 season. While T.J. Watt prepares for his ninth NFL season and works to live up to his record deal, his brother J.J. took to social media to react to the news. According to Spotrac, J.J. Watt made $129,748,000 over his 12-year NFL career. T.J.'s three-year extension alone leaps over that number. The two brothers and former Wisconsin stars boast similarly terrific careers. J.J. made five All-Pro first teams and won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards. T.J., in four fewer seasons, has made four All-Pro first teams and won one DPOY Award. The duo is near the top of the list of the best brother duos in NFL history. If T.J. Watt keeps up his current pace, a spot in Canton, Ohio, will inevitably follow. Contact/Follow on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin football legend J.J. Watt reaction to T.J. Watt's contract
