JJ Watt faces losing his NFL return bet with James Trafford, which focuses on clean sheets, due to the in-form Burnley goalkeeper’s farming roots.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
- American football legend has made Clarets wager
- Trafford has gone over 1,000 minutes without conceding
- Has revealed when Watt needs to start getting nervous
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WHAT HAPPENED?
American football icon Watt has vowed to come out of retirement and join Trafford’s team of choice, the Cincinnati Bengals, if the Clarets do not concede another goal this season. Said bet was made in late December, but is still on the cards two months later.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Trafford has secured 23 shut outs in the 2024-25 campaign, going over 1,000 minutes without being breached in a run that stretches back to a meeting with Watford on December 21. He is making life uncomfortable for Burnley investor Watt.
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WHAT JAMES TRAFFORD SAID
England U21 international Trafford has told of how he broke family tradition in order to become a highly-rated shot-stopper: "It’s always been my two cousins and then me and my sister. Grandpa always used to say ‘he has to be a farmer’. He really wanted us to be a jockey, but me and my to cousins were all 6'4".
"Farming’s definitely helped me as a goalkeeper, like giving you core values, core principles of who you are as a person. That definitely came from my mum and my dad being farmers and always working on the farm.
"It’s definitely had a big impact on me growing up on the farm, especially in the area of the world where I did in north-west Cumbria. Stuff like lambing the sheep. I did it the first time when I was 11. I put my hand up her and pulled. That was far too disgusting, but I did it."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Trafford is now delivering on the £19 million ($24m) show of faith that Burnley made in his ability back in 2023. He is helping them to piece together another Championship promotion push, but added on his bet with Watt that still has 13 games left to take in: "He should only get worried if the games left get to single figures."
