Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

J.J. Watt talks about visiting Packers training camp as a kid

HOUSTON -- A young J.J. Watt visited Packers training camp, making about a two hour drive from his hometown of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, to Green Bay with a friend and his family.

After practice Watt hung around the players' cars, as fans still do today, hoping someone would give him the time of day.

Four players came out and signed autographs for Watt. He had no idea who they were but that still made his day.

"You stand outside by the gate, you don’t know every player on the team," Watt said. "... But that was what was so crazy, I have no clue who this big defensive lineman was that I got his autograph but I was so excited that I got his autograph. If Brett Favre would’ve walked out and I got his autograph I can only imagine what that would’ve been like."

For more than 30 minutes after practice ended on Sunday, Watt signed autographs down a long line of bleachers with screaming and chanting fans pressed up against a barrier, then under a tent with more fans. They had footballs, posters and gloves. One woman wanted her pregnant belly signed but never got close enough to Watt. He was one of the last players making his way down the line before he stopped for a post-practice interview session.

He does it because that used to be him.

"The cooler part was I remember sitting in the stands and watching their practices and just thinking about how cool it was that they got to go out there and compete and play football for a living," Watt said. "It was incredible. To see the way people reacted, to see the way I reacted when you get an autograph or something. ... At the time I was like I don’t even know if they realize how much power they have to make someone’s day. That’s kind of why I’ve always been the way I am with the fans. I realize even if it’s just a handshake or a wave or a smile, you can affect somebody’s entire day or mood just with a wave or smile."

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