Texans' Brown: Owner's comment 'disrespectful and ignorant'
Offensive tackle Duane Brown is among the Houston Texans players unhappy with a comment made by team owner Bob McNair.
McNair recently said "we can't have the inmates running the prison" in regards to players who protest during the national anthem, according to ESPN's Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr.
Brown, a Texans lineman for the past 10 years, said Friday he was "sickened" by the remark, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
"I think the comments were disrespectful and ignorant," Brown said, according to Wilson. "I'm very upset," he added.
His wife, Devi, also spoke about the matter on Twitter.
My husband has put his BODY & MIND on the line for your team for 10 YRS & to you he is an “inmate”. You owe these players RESPECT & support https://t.co/RJWqgBb2NE
— DEVI BROWN (@DeviBrown) October 27, 2017
Brown only returned to the team this week after a holdout that spanned the first seven weeks of the season. However, McNair's comment nearly sparked a walkout by the entire team, he said.
Star receiver DeAndre Hopkins was absent from practice Friday, and it was related to McNair's words, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.