AP

In the wake of a debate (real or contrived) regarding whether and why Cam Newton is so polarizing, another guy who isn’t viewed as a lightning rod continues to periodically say things that should be drawing 50,000-degree bolts of electricity, but aren’t.

Texans defensive J.J. Watt, universally regarded as a good guy and who has never seen a camera for which he wouldn’t mug, has a history of utterances far more inflammatory than anything that ever has come from the mouth of Newton.

Newton, who draws the most real (or embellished) criticism from a habit of on-field exuberance, has never said anything negative about an opponent, apart from a joking, cartoonish reference to Ndamukong Suh as “Donkey Kong.” (It quickly became a thing — complete with a mind-boggling suggestion of racism — and Newton promptly apologized.)

Watt, in contrast, has wrangled with opponents multiple times, from picking a fight with Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger about photos he posted on social media to scoffing openly at offensive linemen trying to block him offering up a carefully-planned-but-poorly-executed post-game comedy routine comparing Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton to a Red Ryder BB gun. He has never apologized; instead, he replied to Mettenberger’s reaction by saying a lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinion of sheep.

Most recently, during a Saturday night awards show no one ever watches, Watt capped a short speech accepting his third career defensive player of the year award with a stunning lack of grace.

It started the right way, with Watt talking about the great players he emulated while growing up, playing football in the front yard, and expressing hope that there could be kids out there today emulating him. Then it took a turn.

“The funny thing to me is I was a two-star recruit coming out of a high school going into college, and now I have three defensive player of the year trophies,” Watt said. “So screw all you guys who doubted me.”

Let’s stop for a second and consider what the actual or perceived reaction would be if Newton or anyone else said something like that. So why doesn’t Watt provoke the same thing?

Some will suggest that race has something to do with it. I’d like to think it’s not quite that simple, but only because I’d like to think football fans care only about the colors their favorite team wears. (I know I’m being naïve.)

Watt, drafted ten picks after Newton in 2011, entered the NFL with a compelling story. After starting his college career at Central Michigan, Watt made an all-in bet on himself at Wisconsin, walking on and earning a scholarship and delivering pizzas to make ends meet. Despite his imposing size and the ominous brace he wears on his arm, Watt comes off to many as non-threatening. Possibly because he’s always smiling.

You know, like Cam does. But whether it’s because there were no stolen laptops or scathing scouting reports or suggestions that the smile was fake or any other possible factor (including race), Watt gets a pass when making comments for which Newton, if he said the same things, would get ripped through more letters to the editor and more finger-wagging gas bags and more petitions to ban him from cities like Seattle.

My goal isn’t to solve this one. But it would be irresponsible to not at least point out that there seems to be a weird, national blind spot when it comes to J.J. Watt.