Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton didn’t appreciate J.J. Watt’s comments at his expense following Monday night’s 10-6 loss to the Houston Texans.
Watt took the opportunity in a TV interview with ESPN immediately following the game to take a jab at Dalton’s red hair and nickname.
“Our goal was to come out here and make the Red Rifle look like a Red Ryder BB Gun,” Watt said on ESPN.
When informed of the comments, Dalton didn’t think they were that funny. Not only that but Dalton took his indignation over the slight a step further in criticizing Watt’s integrity.
“I’m disappointed in him,” Dalton said in his postgame press conference. “The integrity of this game -- I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a really good player. There’s a lot of kids and a lot of people who look up to him. For him to make comments like that, he’s showing that’s acceptable to do that kind of stuff, to say that kind of stuff. It’s disappointing for one of the best players in this league to come out and say something like that. That’s all I’m going to say about that. I think J.J. is a good player, but for him to be one of the best in this league and to show that integrity, and to show that type of ... it shows what he’s about, which is disappointing.”
Oh no! The kids! What ever will they do now?
In a league that still allows Greg Hardy to play on Sundays, it’s the guy making a joke about redheads that is harming the integrity of the game.
Watt’s comments weren’t particularly funny, but in the realm of things to get upset about they barely even register on the list. Dalton’s appeal of ‘Oh, but what about the children?’ is maybe even more ridiculous.
As Cam Newton said, if you don’t want him celebrating touchdowns, then keep him out of the end zone. If Dalton doesn’t want to be the target of trash talk, don’t lose at home to the Texans.