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Cardinals’ J.J. Watt has another snake encounter, this time planned

Oct 14, 2022, 8:10 AM

Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt had himself another snake encounter on Wednesday.

But unlike his last experience, this one was planned and for good reason.

Getting further engrained into life in the desert, Watt snake trained his dogs with the help of a handler, a rattlesnake and some makeshift headgear.

“I knew what it consisted of, but my wife had two of her college teammates over and I don’t think they were ready for it,” Watt told reporters Thursday.

“I didn’t see the tape contraption until after. I thought it was a legit muzzle. I wouldn’t have been as close to that snake as I was if I had known that it was just a couple pieces of athletic tape.”

Luckily for the Watt family, it sounds like they were in good hands despite the little amount of material holding the rattlesnake’s mouth shut.

“Twice a day he has to put that tape on them every day for I think it was five-plus years and he’s never once been bitten,” the defensive end said. “The guy’s a pretty big badass.”

As for whether or not the technique worked?

“It was very successful, the dogs are scared (expletive),” Watt said with a smile.

“I was surprised with myself this time,” he added. “I got a lot more courage when I saw the muzzle so I can’t take too much credit. The dogs learned a lesson very quickly.”

Check off another box on the desert to-do list for Watt.

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OL Rodney Hudson warms up ahead of practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Cameron Thomas takes a drink in between drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Jesse Luketa runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Victor Dimukeje runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Dennis Gardeck runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Markus Golden runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Myjai Sanders runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Myjai Sanders runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals OLB Cameron Thomas runs through drills during practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of practice on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Greg Dortch runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray throws a pass to WR Rondale Moore during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride laughs as he warms up for practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Laquon Treadwell runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Laquon Treadwell runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR A.J. Green runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Javon Wims and CB Byron Murphy run through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr. runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray throws a pass to WR Hollywood Brown during practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Keaontay Ingram warms up ahead of practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Ty'Shon Williams warms up ahead of practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals RB Corey Clement warms up ahead of practice on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

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Cardinals’ J.J. Watt has another snake encounter, this time planned