TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston became emotional when asked on Thursday how difficult it was to sit out Week 1 of the regular season because of Hurricane Irma.
He paused for several seconds, his eyes growing big. He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head.
"I went through a tough time watching," said the 23-year-old Winston, whom his teammates and coaches have always referred to as the ultimate football junkie and one of the fiercest competitors they've ever come across.
But this wasn't about football. He was having a tough time watching the news reports, seeing Hurricane Irma ravage the state of Florida.