The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a very unusual challenge ahead of them. Along with the rest of the AFC North, they will have to try and continue with their normal routine, even though there will be cameras on them throughout the month. The whole division will be on HBO's Hard Knocks, as the show wants to capture how each team works as the season nears its ending. The battle for the AFC North crown between Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens will be a spectacle for sure, so both squads better get used to the cameras quickly.
TJ Watt has never seemed comfortable in front of a camera, as he usually gives very basic, general answers to every question he gets in a press conference. Ironically, he confirmed that in his latest press conference when he was asked about being filmed for Hard Knocks.
"Yeah, [it's] a little bit [weird]. I think it will wear off in the next week or so," says Watt. "You kind of forget that they're there, but you definitely notice them for the first couple days, and some people are talking more than they usually do, but I'm sure that will calm down."
Some players are more photogenic and enjoy being watched by millions of people, while others like Watt just want to be left alone so they can do their work in peace. He did eventually mention that there are some players that may let their personalities shine more on camera, but would not say who they are specifically.
Watt was asked if he was one of the players that would talk more or let his personality shine a little bit. He shot down that idea quickly.
"Nah, nah, I'm sliding in the back of the room as much as I can," Watt said with a big smile on his face.
When the lights are the brightest, Watt usually makes the best plays and lets his emotions run wild. He has some of the most energetic celebrations around the NFL. He was even recently revealed to be a constant trash-talker on the field. When the adrenaline kicks in, there is nothing that can keep his emotions down.
However, he has never been one of the louder voices on the team. Cameron Heyward is more of the vocal leader, while Watt tends to lead by example. You rarely ever hear a peep out of him and what he does during the week, outside of the frequent basic media answers that he gives.
Steelers Will Have To Get "Comfortable Being Uncomfortable"
Head Coach Mike Tomlin is known for many quotes, but one of his go-to "Tomlinisms" is "comfortable being uncomfortable." That line signifies that the team can't get where they want to go if they take the easy way out and do what brings them comfort. If they want to win, they have to do the dirty work that would make the average man quit quickly.
It is usually very uncomfortable to have every little bit of your life be on full display for the whole world to see, especially with a job as secretive as planning to face your opponents like it's a war. Everything is usually kept in-house in Pittsburgh, except for some little stories here and there after many of the players have retired.
Luckily, the Steelers will not be the only team going through it. The whole division will have the same kind of adversity as the Steelers. It's another extra challenge for Pittsburgh to prove that they deserve to be division champions. If either them and/or the Ravens crumble under the pressure of being televised, then they know that they are not truly built to contend for the AFC North title, let alone a Super Bowl.
