Aaron Donald bested TJ Watt by seven votes in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Also: @AP_NFL, I love you, but it’s time to stop referring to @_TJWatt as @JJWatt’s little brother. Especially on first reference. pic.twitter.com/mqNqPZIDVy— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 7, 2021
First and foremost, we are not talking about the Associated Press choosing Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald for Defensive Player of the Year over Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. The vote was very close and it could have gone either way. Both players had elite seasons and should be applauded for it.
But as NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala points out, it is time to stop linking T.J. to his big brother J.J. Watt and let his play and career stand on its own. What Watt has done the last two seasons was DPOY worthy and the fact he shares DNA with the Texans defensive end has no bearing on that.
It really does minimize his accomplishments when you can’t mention him without reminding everyone who his older brother is, as if that has something to do with why he is an elite player.