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Life is good for J.J. Watt, Pro Bowl MVP who dominates everything

Eric Edholm

GLENDALE, Ariz. — After he had been awarded the Defensive MVP at the 2015 Pro Bowl, posing with NFL cheerleaders and standing next to the brand new GMC sport-utility vehicle he just won for those honors, J.J. Watt was pulled away for an NFL Network interview clear across the University of Phoenix Stadium field.

As the 25-year-old Watt traversed the field, the once sold-out crowd, which had thinned considerably by game's end, gave him a near local's welcome. Yes, the four Arizona Cardinals players received the warmest ovations to start the game and any time any of them were involved in a play in the 32-28 Team Irvin victory.

But they stayed for Watt. And they cheered him incessantly. They wanted his autograph. They wanted anything he wore for the game. They just seem to want to get an up-close look at the freak.

"It was cool to have a sold-out stadium here," Watt said. "It's a lot of fun to interact with the fans.“It was fun.

"The Pro Bowl is all about fun. We had a good time out there. We would have obviously love to have the win, but it’s pretty cool to walk out of here with a new truck.”

Watt finished the game with one tackle, one interception, one fumble recovery and — oh, yes — four Watt-patented passes deflected. In a game with so little actual tackling (more like collective bear hugging), Watt made sure to make his impact felt in other ways.

But where was he on offense? He has lined up in past Pro Bowls at tight end, and he caught three touchdown passes there for the Houston Texans this season. Did Watt not want to go in, heck, even as a quarterback — something, anything to add a little juice to a mostly terrible game?

"You know, right there near the end of the game, I kind of strolled my way into the offensive huddle," Watt said. "I don't know if they didn't see me, or if they didn't want to use me."

Instead, Team Carter stuck with Andy Dalton, who finished with 69 yards passing on 20 pass attempts. You're telling me Watt could not have done better with a few throws?

"I just strolled my way back to the sideline when I didn't get the call," Watt said.

And now it will be at least until July that we see Watt after this week. He'll attend the NFL awards show next week after attending to some personal business in Los Angeles. But after that, the man that everyone wants a piece of is expected to go into hibernation up north.

"And then I'll go back up to Wisconsin to lay low," Watt said. "It's been fun to be down here. It has been fun to represent Houston here. Obviously, I wish I was still playing ball."

He's earned the rest, though. Watt might not earn league MVP honors over Wisconsin's other treasure, Aaron Rodgers, or Super Bowl quarterback Tom Brady, who arrives in town on Monday. But Watt had about as chock-full of a season as an NFLer can have — on defense, offense and special teams.

And Watt didn't rest on Sunday, either, giving a complete effort in the game when others were not, and even dancing to the music being blasted out over the house PA between TV timeouts. Does anyone have more fun than Watt?

"I am just trying to enjoy it all," Watt said, smiling and looking around at the hundreds of fans still just watching him stand there. "That's what the Pro Bowl is about. Everyone has worked so hard to get here. You want to enjoy yourself. Yeah, dancing around, having fun ... that's what it's all about."

The sacks. The touchdowns. The awards. The SUVs and the girls. It's Watt's world, and we're all just paying rent.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!