Texans DE J.J. Watt's Hurricane Harvey fundraising efforts have helped raise over $30M after an initial goal of $200,000. Watt said, “It’s a testament to the good in the world. Everybody wanted to help. Everybody from all over the country and the world wanted to help. They just needed a way to help. I’m not a hero." He added, "I’m just a coordinator of people. I’m just the one that helped give people a way to give back" (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 9/10). Watt: "I really want to focus on making sure that I do right with this money and go out there and make sure that we make that money go as far as we possibly can in this recovery." Speaking before the Jaguars-Texans season opener yesterday, Watt said, "I was excited before all this but now with everything, with who we're playing for, with the stakes as they are right now, it is going to be incredible to step on that field in front of these people and try to put on the best show that they've ever seen" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 9/10). ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported Watt had a conversation with Saints QB Drew Brees to talk about his experience with Hurricane Katrina. Darlington said, "Watt told me one thing that really resonated with him that Brees said was, 'Don't underestimate the power of football when it comes to the healing process'" ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 9/10). Meanwhile, former NBAer Tim Duncan is "donating $250,000 immediately to storm relief efforts" for his native U.S. Virgin Islands after "extensive damage from Hurricane Irma" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/9).
