At a recent meeting among owners, Bob McNair of the Houston Texans said that the NFL “can’t have the inmates running the prison.” Those comments were published by ESPN on Friday morning, and even though McNair quickly apologized, the message upset many players on the team.
Texans players almost walked out of practice after Bob McNair’s ‘inmate’ comments
DeAndre Hopkins didn’t attend practice after comments made by the Texans owner were made public Friday.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
McNair held a meeting with players on the team Saturday morning where he reportedly expressed regret.
“I know they were upset,” McNair said, via the Houston Chronicle. “I wanted to answer their questions. I told them if I had it to do over again I wouldn’t use that expression.”
A day after releasing a statement Friday, McNair released another Saturday.
Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wasn’t at practice Friday, which was excused by coach Bill O’Brien as a “personal day.” However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the decision not to attend practice was due to McNair’s comment.
According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, running back D’Onta Foreman also left the facility Friday.
The pair of players were almost joined by more on the roster, as other players on the team considered walking out too, according to offensive tackle Duane Brown:
ESPN reported that around 10 players left the Texans’ facility, but most of them returned. Hopkins and Foreman did not.
Brown spoke with reporters after practice and didn’t mince words when talking about McNair:
O’Brien also spoke with media after the practice, but he didn’t comment on McNair’s remarks or the reaction of players other than to say he is “100 percent with these players.”
The coach tried to keep focus on the team’s Week 8 game against the Seattle Seahawks. He refused to speculate if players would protest before the game and said Hopkins is still slated to start for the team Sunday.
But now that practice is over, the unrest among players on the team is already spilling over in comments to reporters and on social media:
The Texans won’t practice again before their game against the Seahawks at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, but it’s likely not the last we’ll hear about fallout from McNair’s comments.
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