T.J. Watt: NFL fined me for 'jokingly' saying I checked my phone at halftime

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is a little annoyed that the NFL fined him over what he claims was a joke.

In a January interview with “The Dan Patrick Show,” Watt made a remark about how he checked his phone at halftime of the Steelers’ Week 18 game to see if he had been credited with the sack that would have broken the single-season record. A halftime phone check represents a violation of NFL rules, and sure enough, Watt said he was fined when the NFL became aware of his comments.

In an appearance on “Pardon My Take,” Watt claimed he had been joking when he’d made the comments, making the fine even more annoying.

“I jokingly said that I checked my phone of halftime of the Baltimore game, and the NFL took it as a real saying and fined me $10,000,” Watt said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “It’s just one of those things where I’m allowed to have my phone on me at all 90 minutes before the game, or during halftime.”

Watt did not really seem to be joking when he originally made the comments. Perhaps he tried that as his defense, but if he did, it’s easy to see why the NFL didn’t buy it. He should probably know not to say things like that, serious or not, unless he’s prepared for the NFL to make him pay up.