The Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker T.J. Watt continue to clash over their views on what his contract extension should look like, all amid a series of wild guesses as to what's really going on behind the scenes.
An ugly exchange about which side is fortunate to be involved with the other? Wild.
Watt on the wrong side of 30 believing he should get $40 million APY to become the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history? Wild.
Trades being speculated about that features the Steelers and literally every single other NFL team? Wild.
Watt is clearly plotting a holdout in training camp if needed; he's done that before, and it landed him a monster deal a few years ago. He seems to hold some of the cards now, too, as Pittsburgh is in go-for-it mode ...
And what would be the point of going for it if you're not going to retain your best player?
Enter PFT's Mike Florio, always good for a wild guess or two. He writes ..
"This time, the Steelers seem to believe (based on our discussions with those familiar with the team's approach) that, when their best number is put on the table, Watt will take it.''
So, Watt is going to cave? And the Steelers are telling people that they are counting on winning a Game of Chicken because of it?
Wild.
Florio admits he's guessing when he writes that "the Steelers hope to stay closer to the Maxx Crosby range of $35.5 million, with Watt hoping to surge past Myles Garrett's $40 million per year. ... What if, at the end of the day, the Steelers offer a deal worth $38 million per year?''
At some point, the numbers become a blur. But the predict that Watt is going to give in? Florio makes that pretty clear ...
Until he crawfishes later in the same story.
"Of course,'' Florio adds, "the Steelers could be underestimating Watt's resolve. If he's dug in when it comes to matching or beating Garrett, maybe Watt would still say "no" to anything less than $40 million per year.''
Oh.
Steelers fans can hope one way or another that the player "wins'' or that the team "wins'' in terms of where the money finally comes in. But if Steelers executives really believe that Watt is going to cave? And they're telling media people that?
That's a loud-mouthed dare to Watt. And Steelers fans have a right to be bothered by that.