Texans owner Bob McNair has been at the center of the protest controversy since October, when it was reported that during a league meeting, he referred to players as ‘inmates running the prison.’
The Houston Texans issued a statement denying a report that the franchise would not be signing any players who knelt in protest during the national anthem or any who are likely to do so.
The Texans have not issued a directive, according to the Houston Chronicle, but two agents told the paper it’s understood that the organization would not sign any free agents or draft a player who protested inequality and police brutality against minorities by kneeling during the playing of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
‘A recent report that suggests the Houston Texans would not sign a player who has protested in support of social justice issues is categorically false and without merit,’ read the team’s statement. ‘The Texans ownership, coaching, personnel and executive staff sign and hire employees based on talent, character and fit within our organization.’
Members of the Houston Texans kneel during the national anthem before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington
Texans owner Bob McNair has been at the center of the protest controversy since October, when it was reported that during a league meeting, he referred to players as ‘inmates running the prison.’
McNair publicly apologized for the remarks, but according to the Chronicle, the players did not believe he was being genuine.
‘I regret that I used that expression,’ McNair said in a statement. ‘I never meant to offend anyone and I was not referring to our players. I used a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally. I would never characterize our players or our league that way and I apologize to anyone who was offended by it.’
The majority of Texans players staged a mass protest during the national anthem prior to their first game following McNair’s ‘inmates’ comment.
A Houston Texans fan holds a sign referring to Houston Texans owner Bob McNair’s ‘inmates’ comments before a game between the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington
Dozens of team members knelt for the national anthem and linked arms while standing on the sideline before a game against the Seattle Seahawks on October 29. It’s estimated that only 10 members of the team stood.
ESPN reported in October that the Texans held a players meeting on Saturday in Seattle to decide how to present themselves on Sunday after McNair said ‘we can’t have the inmates running the prison yard’ while discussing his frustration with the way that the protest had affected the NFL’s business last week.
The protests began with now-former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the 2016 NFL preseason.
President Donald Trump has continued to point to the protests as an explanation for the league’s diminished ratings.
The trend began with now-former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick (center) who took a knee to protest racial inequality and police brutality during the 2016 preseason
Trump also criticized NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who stated that its the league’s position that ‘everyone’ should stand for the anthem, but did not implemented any new rule requiring players to do so.
In November it was reported that the NFL would consider leaving players in the locker room until after the anthem, which was the league’s routine prior to 2009.
Trump did not like the idea.
‘The NFL is now thinking about a new idea – keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season,’ he tweeted on November 22. ‘That’s almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!…..’
Prior to that in October, Vice President and former Indiana Governor Mike Pence left a Colts game after several members of the visiting 49ers took a knee and locked arms during the anthem.
Trump later claimed that Pence’s exit, which cost Indianapolis Police $14,000, had been ‘long planned.’
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has not required players to stand for the national anthem