Texans’ Watt raises more than $4 million for flood-ravaged Houston; Elliott appeal ongoing
Big-hearted Americans are slamming down money for J.J. Watt’s relief fund benefiting Texas flood victims even more forcibly than the Houston Texans defensive end slams down quarterbacks.
By early Tuesday evening, Watt had raised more than $4 million in pledged donations, after repeatedly raising his fundraising goal. The new goal? Five million! At first on Sunday, Watt hoped his social-media followers would match his $100,000 donation. They quickly did, so he sought $200,000. By Monday afternoon $500,000 in donations had poured in. Subsequent goals of $1 million, $2 million, $3 million and $4 million were met Tuesday.
“There’s really not a lot of words that can describe what he’s done,” Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said Tuesday of Watt. “The thing that’s really pretty neat about him is he is really adamant about that money going toward the people that need it. And I think he’s got a lot of great ideas for that money, and I think he’s actually putting it into action right now.
“It just says a lot about who he is, and we’re sure lucky to have him.” APPEAL CONTINUES: Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal hearing lasted 10 hours Tuesday in New York City, without conclusion.
Both sides — that is, lawyers representing the NFL and lawyers representing the Dallas Cowboys running back — will resume procedural discussions Wednesday in front of league-appointed arbiter Harold Henderson, again at an undisclosed location.
The NFL on Aug. 11 suspended Elliott without pay for the first six regular-season games, for alleged domestic violence against a former girlfriend in Ohio. Elliott has denied the NFL’s findings. No criminal charges have been filed against him.
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Elliott still has an abundance of loyal friends in his locker-room and in the front office, too. Owner Jerry Jones reiterated Tuesday that he still believes there is no incriminating evidence against Elliott. FLACCO THROWS: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is throwing again, for the first time in a month. A stiff back had prevented him from throwing a football for four weeks.
“He is in really good shape,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.