About 28 National Football League players either from Samoa or of Samoan heritage were scrambling to find out about loved ones Wednesday after a tsunami that has killed at least 113 people.
Huge waves rocked the South Pacific after an undersea earthquake that caused a tidal wave which destroyed Samoan villages and wiped out tourist resorts.
Three players on the Cincinnati Bengals - defensive linemen Jonathan Fanene and Domata Peko and linebacker Rey Maualuga - were among those trying to learn information about the devastation and helping support each other.
"I think they?re comfortable. Their families are good," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Last night, there was a little uneasiness among them, because they weren?t able to get any communication done. It?s difficult even without the tsunami to communicate way over there.
"At least at this point, things seem to be good and stable and OK. I think they?re relieved."
Peko, an NFL rookie, made contact with his parents Tuesday night, while Fanene, like Peko from American Samoa, reached his mother but no other relatives. Maualuga, from Samoa, was still trying to reach his younger brother.
"Right now back home, I?m not sure what?s going on," Fanene told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I talked to my mom. She?s doing OK. She said the island is messed up."
Peko told the newspaper that his parents told him people were slowly coming down from higher ground to examine the damage.
"A lot of people were coming off the mountain and going back to their homes. It?s a tragedy over there," Peko said. "It was a little surprising, see little Samoa go through a tough time."
Maualuga cherished having two teammates who understood his fears and could offer support.
"They are like my brothers. They will calm me down when I need it," he said. "They have definitely been there for me."
His thoughts were with his mother trying to reach other family members.
"The death toll is increasing every day and all we can do now is look up to God and pray," Maualuga said. "When the time comes for us to help I?m pretty sure I?ll step up. As of now all we can do is hope."
Other top NFL players of Samoan heritage include Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh and linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who are both injured but could return this weekend. Tatupu has a sore hamstring. Polamalu has a sprained left knee.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
