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Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 30 Caption Close Image 2 of 30 <big><b><center>Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 <big><b><center>Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 Photo: Rick Osentoski / Associated Press Image 3 of 30 <big><b><center>Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 <big><b><center>Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 Photo: Frank Victores / Associated Press Image 4 of 30 <big><b><center>Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 <big><b><center>Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 Photo: Mark Hoffman / McClatchy-Tribune News Service Image 5 of 30 Image 6 of 30 <big><b><center>Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 <big><b><center>Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Image 7 of 30 <big><b><center>Steve Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 <big><b><center>Steve Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens <h3></h3> Odds: 100/1 Photo: Evan Vucci / Associated Press Image 8 of 30 <big><b><center>Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants <h3></h3> Odds: 75/1 <big><b><center>Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants <h3></h3> Odds: 75/1 Photo: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press Image 9 of 30 <big><b><center>LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 <big><b><center>LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press Image 10 of 30 Image 11 of 30 <big><b><center>Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 <big><b><center>Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 Photo: Leon Halip / Getty Images Image 12 of 30 <big><b><center>Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 <big><b><center>Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 Photo: Tim Sharp / Associated Press Image 13 of 30 <big><b><center>Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 <big><b><center>Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears <h3></h3> Odds: 50/1 Photo: David Banks / Getty Images Image 14 of 30 <big><b><center>Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 <big><b><center>Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press Image 15 of 30 Image 16 of 30 <big><b><center>Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 <big><b><center>Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia Eagles <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Image 17 of 30 <big><b><center>Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 <big><b><center>Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals <h3></h3> Odds: 33/1 Photo: Al Behrman / Associated Press Image 18 of 30 <big><b><center>Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots <h3></h3> Odds: 25/1 <big><b><center>Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots <h3></h3> Odds: 25/1 Photo: Charlie Riedel / Associated Press Image 19 of 30 <big><b><center>Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 <big><b><center>Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 Photo: Tim Sharp / Associated Press Image 20 of 30 Image 21 of 30 <big><b><center>Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 <big><b><center>Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 Photo: Jim Mone / Associated Press Image 22 of 30 <big><b><center>J.J. Watt, DL, Houston Texans <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 <big><b><center>J.J. Watt, DL, Houston Texans <h3></h3> Odds: 15/1 Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 23 of 30 <big><b><center>DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys <h3></h3> Odds: 10/1 <big><b><center>DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys <h3></h3> Odds: 10/1 Photo: Tim Sharp / Associated Press Image 24 of 30 <big><b><center>Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks <h3></h3> Odds: 10/1 <big><b><center>Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks <h3></h3> Odds: 10/1 Photo: John Cordes / Associated Press Image 25 of 30 Image 26 of 30 <big><b><center>Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers <h3></h3> Odds: 7/1 <big><b><center>Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers <h3></h3> Odds: 7/1 Photo: Denis Poroy / Associated Press Image 27 of 30 <big><b><center>Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers <h3></h3> Odds: 7/1 <big><b><center>Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers <h3></h3> Odds: 7/1 Photo: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Image 28 of 30 <big><b><center>Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts <h3></h3> Odds: 5/1 <big><b><center>Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts <h3></h3> Odds: 5/1 Photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images Image 29 of 30 <big><b><center>Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos <h3></h3> Odds: 4/1 <big><b><center>Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos <h3></h3> Odds: 4/1 Photo: John Froschauer / Associated Press Image 30 of 30 J.J. Watt to be featured on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" 1 / 30 Back to Gallery

During her 1990s stint as a Broncos cheerleader, ESPN reporter Michelle Beisner had a sideline view for John Elway’s run as Denver’s team leader and designated advertising pitchman. It reminds her of J.J. Watt’s current status in Houston.

“In most locker rooms it’s the quarterback who has been the leader,” she said. “With the Texans, it’s J.J. Watt. He takes the responsibility seriously and tries to lead by example.

“When I got back to my hotel room, I turned on the television set and saw four commercials with Watt in a half-hour. That’s what you would see in Denver with Elway. He is doing a good job living up to that role.”

Beisner’s 4 ½-minute feature on Watt, culled from a 30-minute interview this week, will be among the featured spots on “Sunday NFL Countdown” in advance of the Texans-Cowboys game.

ESPN also will air an essay narrated by Peter Berg, the director of the unfortunate film based on the excellent H.G. Bissinger book “Friday Night Lights,” on football in Texas.

At a time when the NFL is catching so much bad publicity from playrs’ off-field misdeeds, Beisner said Watt “is the powter boy for what the NFL should look like, from his work ethic to his modest lifestyle, the way he lives and trains and how he gives back.

“He’s accountable, he’s humble, he’s silly, he’s fun, he’s real. You don’t find many guys like that’s and it’s a shame. He has freakish athletic ability, and attached to it is this very smart, calculated, genuine guy. He gets it, and you wish that everybody else could get it, too.”

“Sunday NFL Countdown” begins at 9 a.m. on ESPN. On NFL Network’s “NFL GameDay Morning,” meanwhile, the “Players Only” segment will wrestle with the question, “Is J.J. Watt the best player in the NFL?”

david.barron@chron.com

twitter.com/dfbarron