Family separation tough on players
FRISCO — A new father, Tom Savage can’t wait to be reunited with his wife, Catherine, and their daughter.
Summer recently turned 7 months old, but the Texans quarterback can’t be with his family right now. Because of massive flooding and destruction back in Houston caused by Tropical Storm Harvey, Savage and his teammates have been unable to return home since Saturday night’s preseason game against the Saints in New Orleans.
The Texans practiced Monday at the Dallas Cowboys’ 91-acre sports and entertainment complex called The Star in advance
of a relocated preseason game Thursday night at AT&T Stadium. It is unclear when the defending AFC South champions will be able to return home.
Savage can’t wait to hug his wife and daughter. The Texans traveled to New Orleans a week ago.
“She’s the most amazing baby in the world, and obviously, I want to be there with her,” Savage said. “But I know my wife has it under control. Here, you kind of feel a little handcuffed. You can’t do anything.
“As a father, you want to be there, and you want to be there to support her and protect her. That’s the hardest thing for all the guys. I can speak for them. We’re the fathers. We want to be out there.”
Good on baby food
Savage is relieved that his family is safe. He keeps in touch with them via regular FaceTime. Summer is blissfully unaware of the chaos that has unfolded because of a historically significant storm.
“She has no idea what’s going on, and she is still smiling, so it’s a relief,” Savage said. “Obviously, there are some things going on that are very unfortunate.
“They’re good. We stocked up on baby food, so we are good in that department.”
It is difficult for Texans players to compartmentalize preparing for a football game when their minds and hearts are elsewhere. They are trying to do their jobs while worried about how their families are coping with uncertain and unprecedented circumstances.
The situation has triggered a lot of emotions.
“It’s like a punch in the gut,” veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. “You want to be back there for your city, your family, of course your kids. They’re obviously young, so they don’t really understand exactly what’s going on, so you try to explain to them, talk to them as much as you can, and keep them at ease.”
Joseph said his family is doing well and that he’s been in regular communication with his wife. His family lives in the Memorial area.
Texans coach Bill O’Brien has allotted time for the players to speak to their families throughout the day. That has helped the situation, but it’s still an extremely difficult time for the players.
“We’re professionals, so at the end of the day, we have a job to do, and I think that’s got to be the way you go about your business and handle it,” Joseph said. “But it’s hard at the same time to kind of sit there and play football and then think about your family that’s back home when it’s constantly updates going on around the clock about things that are going on back in your hometown.”
The Texans have been away from home a lot lately.
They held training camp for three weeks in West Virginia. They returned home briefly for a few days of practice prior to a home preseason game against the New England Patriots.
They traveled to New Orleans last Tuesday for a joint practice and preseason game with the Saints. Now, they’re unable to return home because of the inclement weather.
Catherine Savage has been a rock for the Texans’ quarterback.
“She’s always texting me every five minutes telling me that Summer is OK,” Savage said. “My mother-in-law is in town with them, so that helps a lot. She’s very supportive and understanding, but at the same time, I have seen her probably three days in the last month. It just is what it is.”
Every half-hour, Texans veteran punter Shane Lechler checks on his wife and two daughters.
Away from his family while the displaced Texans practice at the Cowboys’ palatial practice facility, Lechler has been reassured that they’re doing fine.
They live in the Richmond area, which has been stricken with flooding. So far, their home hasn’t been affected. Although his family can’t get in and out of their neighborhood, they’re safe.
“We’re doing good so far,” Lechler said. “The water is coming up. Not being there, that’s the tough part of this whole deal.
“The Brazos River runs right through there by the Richmond area. We’re a pretty good ways from that section. It’s definitely not good, but we’re dealing with it. This is an odd situation for all of us.”
Lechler said he’s been inspired by how people have come together during a weather crisis that has caused massive devastation in terms of fatalities and property damage in Houston and surrounding areas.
“That’s kind of the Texas way,” Lechler said. “That’s what we do. We’re going to find a way to get something done and get it fixed and cleaned up and be better than before, but it’s going to take a group effort. That’s why I’m happy to be from there. I take a lot of pride in that state.”
Spousal support
Long snapper Jon Weeks and his wife, Amanda, are the proud parents of a baby girl named Parker.
Weeks is dealing with a turbulent time by leaning heavily on his wife, who has assured him that she and the baby are fine and that he can concentrate on his various special-teams duties.
“This is a very tough situation to be in, being away from my wife and newborn, but my wife’s tough , and she’s telling me to relax and calm down, and I’m keeping in touch with her as much as I can,” Weeks said. “She’s my backbone. She’s as tough as they get.
“And if she’s telling me to relax, her and the baby are OK. And as long as she’s saying that to me, I’m going to do my best to concentrate on what my job is.”
Hundreds of miles away from a waterlogged city, Savage is impressed with the grit displayed by Houston residents and saddened by what has transpired.
“It’s just devastating,” Savage said. “It’s a shame that it’s happening. When I got drafted here, I kept hearing that term ‘Texas tough.’ It really shows in these situations.
“Houston is a really resilient city. We try and instill those traits into our football team. I know we all wish we could be there with them and be helping. It’s just a shame.”