Flooding forces Texans-Cowboys game to Arlington

Thursday’s scheduled preseason game between the Dallas Cowboys and host Houston Texans has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the NFL announced Monday.

“Due to public safety concerns resulting from the ongoing weather emergency related to Hurricane Harvey, Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys-Houston Texans game originally scheduled to be played in Houston at 7 p.m. CT has been relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington,” the league said in a statement.

“Kickoff on Thursday will remain at 7 p.m. CT. Details on tickets, parking and other game day logistics will be announced later this week.”

The Texans have been in the Dallas area since early Sunday morning, one day removed from playing a preseason game in New Orleans. The Texans practiced Monday at the Cowboys’ facility in Frisco, Texas.

The Houston Chronicle reported that NRG Stadium — home of the Texans — remains undamaged but there is flooding nearby.

The Texans are scheduled to open the regular season at NRG Stadium on Sept. 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. No decision has been made as to whether that game will be relocated.

“The NFL and the Texans will continue to closely monitor the situation in Houston and adjust the team’s plans as necessary,” the NFL said in a statement.

The remnants of Hurricane Harvey continued dumping historic levels of rainfall on the Houston area on Monday. The National Weather Service said flooding isn’t expected to peak until Wednesday or Thursday. Some areas of southeast Texas around Houston have already seen more than 30 inches of rain.

The tropical storm was set to re-enter the Gulf of Mexico later Monday and make another landfall closer to Houston around two days later, prolonging the flooding disaster.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien said Monday the Texans have been in touch with all of the players who did not travel with the team to New Orleans and now Dallas.

“You know football, obviously, is important, but I think the most important thing right now is doing everything we can for our city,” O’Brien said at a news conference. “I can tell you right now, we’re going to dedicate this season to the city of Houston, to the people of Houston.

“There are no guarantees in football — that’s not what I’m here to say. But I will guarantee this team will go out every Sunday, Monday, Thursday — whenever they ask us to play — and we’ll play our (butts) off for the city of Houston, I promise you that.”

Prior to the league’s announcement on Monday night, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said he wasn’t sure if the preseason game should be played at all.

“I think there are much bigger things at hand, absolutely,” Watt said after Monday’s practice at The Star. “I think that the most important thing right now is family and friends and the city of Houston back home, making sure they’re safe, making sure they’re taken care of it.

“If there is something played this week, I think we should definitely involve some sort of fundraiser, some sort of way to benefit the people back home, because I think this is a much bigger issue than just a football game.”

Watt posted a video message on social media and donated $100,000 to an online fundraiser that he started Sunday while Houston was being hit hard by the flooding.

“I’m sitting here watching the news and checking the internet and seeing everything that’s going on with Hurricane Harvey and the damage it’s causing back home,” Watt said on the video. “It’s very difficult. It’s very difficult not only because we have family and friends back there, some guys have young kids, some guys have wives and families.

“But that’s our city. It’s very tough to watch your city get hit by such a bad storm and not be there to help. Not be there to help with the recovery. Not be there to help with the process. It’s very tough. … Everybody in Houston stay safe. We’re thinking about you. We’re going to come back. We’re going to help you out.”

Watt set up a page on YouCaring.com and and raised $200,000 in two hours.

Watt personally gave $100,000 to the fundraiser, tweeting: “Your support is phenomenal!”

The campaign then reached $500,000 Monday afternoon after Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul donated $50,000. Following Paul’s donation, Watt raised his goal to $1 million.

“The generosity of @CP3’s $50k donation is actually what put us over the $500k mark. Phenomenal stuff from donations both large and small,” Watt tweeted.

O’Brien praised the efforts of his players and the team for trying to make a difference.

“We’re proud to represent the city of Houston,” O’Brien told reporters Monday. “I saw that J.J. Watt started a fundraising page last night and raised over $200,000 in just a couple hours in addition to another $100,000 coming from his own pocket. I think that really shows the type of guys we have on this team and the fact that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to care for our city.”

The Texans and team owner Bob McNair are donating $1 million to the United Way of Greater Houston’s flood relief fund.

“These dollars will be put to good use in the relief and recovery efforts,” O’Brien said. “We also hope our actions encourage others to do what they can to help their neighbors in need right now.”

The NFL Foundation is matching the Texans’ $1 million relief donation.

“The NFL Foundation will match Mr. McNair and the Houston Texans’ $1 million contribution to the United Way Relief Fund to address the immediate needs of those impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” the foundation said in a statement. “The total $2 million contribution will support first response efforts by the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the United Way of Greater Houston. Our thoughts are with the Houston community during this difficult time and we encourage fans to text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey relief.”

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is matching up to $1 million in donations to American Red Cross relief efforts.

“The New England Patriots are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Harvey over the weekend in Texas, especially in the greater Houston area,” the Patriots said in a statement. “In an effort to provide much needed financial support to a community where they have family members and many friends, the Kraft family is offering to match all funds donated to the American Red Cross in support of Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund up to $1 million.”

The Patriots are currently working with the American Red Cross to create a site to accept these donations.

“Houston is a special city to our family and our organization,” Kraft said. “The New England Patriots and our fans have celebrated two of our franchise’s greatest and most memorable moments in Houston. The city was a tremendous host for Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and once again this past February for Super Bowl LI. Houston could not have provided more support to us during those visits, and we welcome the opportunity to provide this support when Houston needs it most. When natural disasters have impacted our country, they have always unified communities and rallied support throughout the nation. We have already heard stories of heroic rescues and strangers helping strangers in this time of need. These stories have inspired us, as we always encourage bringing communities together, building bridges and helping others. We are eager to join in these efforts and provide our support.”