Watt’s in Arizona? J.J. Watt is on the Cardinals, not Peloton

Monday morning began with an over-analysis of some person’s Peloton profile page.

The rumor-mill believed that it was former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt keeping fans in the loop about his free agency interest in the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

Instead, Watt shot that down — he does not have a Peloton — and shortly thereafter declared himself an Arizona Cardinal.

i don’t own a bike. stop.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021

source: me. pic.twitter.com/1Y6okQBUy5

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 1, 2021

That whirlwind on the social media news cycle left NFL fans from Buffalo to Arizona breathless like they went through an actual Peloton workout.

But while Watt announcing his decision to sign with the Cardinals elated fans in Arizona, it left others across the country disappointed.

*JJ Watt has narrowed his choices to the Browns, Packers and Bills*

JJ Watt: *signs with the Cardinals*

Browns, Packers and Bills: pic.twitter.com/0I8uHeyXSN

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) March 1, 2021

Everyone: J.J. Watt wants to get back to his Midwest roots and play for a contender– Packers, Steelers, Bills, Browns.

J.J. Watt: Actually, sun and cash are fine with me.

— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) March 1, 2021

Me reading this tweet. pic.twitter.com/O8GFYrLTV8

— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) March 1, 2021

Bills, packers, and browns fans today pic.twitter.com/GLj0SNH8wR

— Bold Statement (@BoldStatePod) March 1, 2021

Cardinals players and Arizona fans, however, were generally overjoyed.

6 years ago.. my senior year of HS. Welcome to AZ! Let’s get it! @JJWatt pic.twitter.com/yY7j2e9ww4

— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 1, 2021

Cardinals fans to Bill O Brien pic.twitter.com/alimpQn2xI

— Hassan ☠ (@KingHassan__) March 1, 2021

Congratulations @JJWatt and welcome home to the @AZCardinals my man!!! I will be fielding all inquiries on behalf of Steve Keim. Our first statement is as follows.. “Other teams can suck it”.

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) March 1, 2021

ALL OF US RN: pic.twitter.com/dsIS71KxXq

— Lisa Matthews (@LisaMatthewsAZ) March 1, 2021

JJ Watt and DeAndre Hopkins, after winding up back together on the Cardinals pic.twitter.com/AhmMOfPKsP

— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) March 1, 2021

DeAndre Hopkins and JJ Watt when they see each other at the Arizona Cardinals facility pic.twitter.com/8OlR6y23v3

— #RingerNFL (@ringernfl) March 1, 2021

How Kyler Murray and JJ Watt walking into Cardinals training camp pic.twitter.com/h9KXSzPJbd

— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 1, 2021

While Watt isn’t the elite First Team All-Pro talent he was from 2012-15, he remained impactful for a struggling Houston team last season.

Watt closed 2020 with 52 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and seven passes defensed. He drew heavy attention when he rushed from the edge.

Most sacks in the NFL since the start of 2012:
1. Chandler Jones: 97
2. JJ Watt: 95.5

Now teammates in Arizona.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 1, 2021

J.J. Watt was double-teamed as an edge rusher 30% of the time in 2020, the highest rate among qualifiers. https://t.co/ClqFBMTktG

— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) March 1, 2021

Only defenders w/ a 90+ PFF Grade in 5 separate seasons since 2010:
💥 J.J. Watt
💥 Aaron Donald pic.twitter.com/ZdUyISvm7U

— PFF (@PFF) March 1, 2021

Teaming up with fellow pass-rusher Chandler Jones, Watt in Arizona adds more talent to an NFC West division that already includes the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald. And with all the drama ongoing between the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson, there were jokes to be had.

From @chanjones55 IG story: 😂 Start sharpening the knives chef 👨🏻‍🍳 you’ve got some work to do! pic.twitter.com/7JmPybK0XW

— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) March 1, 2021

Also feel bad for my guy RW3 lol

— ♛Chandler Jones (@chanjones55) March 1, 2021

Good news for Russell Wilson is he won't have to face J.J. Watt twice a year. I mean, since he's totally getting trade to the Bears.

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) March 1, 2021

Russell Wilson when JJ Watt gets added to a division that already has Nick Bosa, Chandler Jones, and Aaron Donald pic.twitter.com/xY3DWBNEyc

— The JNL Sports Show (@JNLSportsShow) March 1, 2021

When Russell Wilson sees the JJ Watt news pic.twitter.com/FpaTKCkccG

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) March 1, 2021

And here’s a random, fun jersey-nerd stat for you:

Uni note on JJ Watt signing w/ Cardinals: If Larry Fitzgerald comes back for another season, Cardinals would have two players wearing the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award jersey patch. No team has ever had two Payton patchers on the roster simultaneously. (h/t Alfonso Ferrari) pic.twitter.com/fY9llOobmh

— Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) March 1, 2021

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