Houston Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins left team facilities today. Sources state that his absence is due to the comments made by Texans owner Bob McNair. Adam Schefter reported the news on Twitter today.
Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins’ absence from practice today was related to Bob McNair’s comments, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2017
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien explained that DeAndre was taking a personal day today.
#Texans coach Bill O’Brien describes WR DeAndre Hopkins as taking a “personal day,” explaining why he wasn’t at practice today
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 27, 2017
Players within the organization are upset with McNair’s comments. McNair stated that “We Can’t Have The Inmates Running The Prison”, referencing the current protests in the NFL.
Many Texans players wanted to walk out of practice today but were persuaded not to.
Texans players wanted to walkout today in response to owner Bob McNair’s comments, per @sarahbarshop. Had to be persuaded to stay.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2017
Players were also given an opportunity to speak at a team meeting today.
Bill O’Brien, GM Rick Smith and asst. HC Romeo Crennel then led 90-minute team meeting in which players were given platform to speak out.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 27, 2017
It is unclear what will happen this Sunday come game time. It could be safe to assume that some kind of unified protest, much like what we saw league-wide after comments made by President Donald Trump.
The Texans will do something before Sunday’s game in Seattle but the team has not decided yet what that will be.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) October 27, 2017
The Texans currently sit at 3-3 on the year and third in the AFC South. They travel to Seattle and will play the Seahawks this Sunday.
