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Houston Texans: Why Bob McNair could be showing his true colors

By Brian K. Patterson

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Houston Texans owner Bob McNair walks on the field before his team plays the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Wild Card game at NRG Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Houston Texans owner Bob McNair walks on the field before his team plays the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Wild Card game at NRG Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /
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As all eyes of the football world descended on the NFL’s ownership meetings, Houston Texans owner had to walk back a comment that would be deemed offensive to many.

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair took center stage after his comments apparently ignited a firestorm during the NFL’s ownership meetings.  He said his piece during a players-owners session during the meeting where both sides had an opportunity to engage about a divisive happening that’s occurring during the beginning of games.

What am I talking about?

The national anthem protests.  A concern that has had most of us engaged in a fiery debate on what’s right and what’s wrong, what McNair said sent shock waves across the sports media scene because of the tackiness of their tone.

McNair, in response to Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder generalizing in regard to the majority of the fans preferring for players to stand versus kneel, McNair responded “we can’t have the inmates running the prison.”

For many, including myself, I consider those comments to be highly offensive, especially in the context that they were used.  With a majority of players in the league being of color as well as those imprisoned in this country, this does not exactly put a good taste in one’s mouth when hearing quips like this.

McNair did apologize for those comments by releasing a statement through the Houston Texans public relations department, here’s the quote:

This, of course, has been sparked by quarterback Colin Kaepernick‘s decision to kneel during the national anthem ceremony dating back to last season.  His purpose is to highlight the plight of many African-Americans unjustly treated, particularly the recent outburst of police violence.  It’s understandable that he feels this way.  The United States flag has a different meaning to many and I think it’s his right to express his opinion.

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Although I’d personally stand and put my hand over my heart for the national anthem, I can’t abridge someone’s constitutional right to free speech.  But first things first, Kaepernick needs to be signed to an NFL team because as long as he remains a free agent, the talks will continue and it further demonstrates that the NFL and its exclusive club of owners are blackballing him from the league.

It’s sad but true.  With McNair funneling millions of dollars to President Donald Trump’s campaign, you have to wonder if his views align with the president’s which are ones that cause rifts and splits rather than unification.  There’s no way I can prove it unless McNair says it himself but one has to wonder about the situation.

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I do sincerely appreciate him for bringing football back to Houston after a five-year hiatus when the Houston Oilers left but this certainly something I don’t want to hear from the face of the franchise’s ownership.

It’s actually a shame I’m actually penning this news to paper but it’s unfortunately the reality of the world that we live in.

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