Cards: Topps Inspiration 2013, Score 2011
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 8/20 /13   Received: 2/14/14       (174 days)
See Also: JJ Watt

Well you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth. JJ Watt is a great signer through the mail, so much so he receives a mail bag full that he’s rumored to take with him into the off season and into bye weeks to sign. I don’t blame him for short handing his autographs to ‘JJ 99’ at this point, though I fault the fans who abuse his charity, and the companies that own the rights to his autograph signings. I doubted I was going to get the opportunity to get JJ again, in person, so I thought I’d take a stab at him TTM before it was too late. I thought that this one was gone. His response time has really atrophied over the past year and I fully expect that he will peter out of the TTM business in the next few years.

JJ since his rookie season has really cemented himself as an impact player in the league. A fearsome pass rusher and special teamer, Watt is a team leader that leads by example for the Texans. During the playoffs in 2011, Watt intercepted an Andy Dalton throw at the line, and returned it for a touchdown. Over the next season, Watt sparked a revolution on the defensive line, as other players became more aggressive about blocking passes at the line of scrimmage. In 2012, JJ led the NFL with 20.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and an unheard of 16 passes defensed- a number higher than even most defensive backs. Even more impressive was the fact that Watt did this all in a 3-4 alignment. After the season Watt earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl, and All Pro Honors.

While the Texans planned to go deeper into the 2013 playoffs, about everything that could go wrong did for the team, with disastrous results. After winning their first 2 games in exciting comebacks, the team imploded and lost 14 straight. Free agency and injury had stripped the Texans of much needed depth on defense and on the offensive line. The quarterback rotation fell apart, and finally head coach Gary Kubiak had a mild stroke. Still Watt despite facing constant double teams and new schemes specifically designed to frustrate him, was able to come through with another 10.5 sacks and 65 tackles. Again Watt earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl and All Pro Honors for his efforts.

The Texans cleaned house after the 2013 season. Even beloved defensive coordinator Wade Philips was sent packing. With a new coordinator in Romeo Crennel joining the staff under rookie head coach Bill O’Brien, and the #1 pick in the 2014 draft, who knows what’s in store for JJ Swatt? A thoughtful and caring individual JJ gives much of his time to charity and to his youngest fans.