Owners of Colts, Texans disagree with time, place of anthem protests

The owners of the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans have made it clear they disagree with pregame protests.

While looking to avoid offending the specific causes behind the national anthem protests, the Colts' Jim Irsay and the Texans' Bob McNair said NFL games are not the time nor place for political demonstrations

"I think it’s the wrong venue," Irsay told Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports. "It hasn’t been a positive thing. What we all have to be aware of as players, owners, PR people, equipment managers, is when the lights go on we are entertainment. We are being paid to put on a show. There are other places to express yourself."

None of Irsay's players are currently protesting, although Antonio Cromartie did before his release and some mistakenly believed Dwayne Allen was. McNair's Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown has chosen to protest by raising his fist, and while the owner doesn't wish to dismiss his player's concerns, he takes issue with subjecting fans to the displays.

"People come to the game because they want to get away from what’s happening in their everyday lives," McNair said. "When you bring those types of things into the scene, yeah, it will turn some people off. But the main thing we try to do is to say, ‘We recognize your concern. Let’s do something about it."