Houston Texans Deny Claim Of Not Signing Players Who Take Knee

HOUSTON, TX — The biggest non-football story during the NFL season has poured over into the offseason. Whereas the agents of some players say the Houston Texans won't sign any athletes who have either knelt during the national anthem in the past, or plans to in the future, the team vehemently denies the claim.

"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," the team said in a statement. "The Texans ownership, coaching, personnel and executive staff sign and hire employees based on talent, character and fit within our organization."

Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle wrote, “there is no directive within the organization, but it is considered to be understood that as desperate as the Texans are to bring in talent, the pool of potential signees and draftees will not include anyone who has participated in protests or are likely to.”

Solomon went on to write that, while the Texans “are not a racist organization,” team owner Bob McNair frequently has been “racially tone deaf,” and there are “many who believe if McNair could field a team with all-white, all-conforming all-pro talent, he would.”

McNair last fall was forced to walk back comments he made during a closed door meeting among NFL owners and executives who were discussing whether or not players should be allowed to take a knee during the National Anthem.

McNair, who has owned the Houston Texans franchise since 2002, said: "We can't have the inmates running the prison."

Many Texans players knelt in the very next game at Seattle.

McNair's comments, which were first reported by ESPN the Magazine, apparently stunned some in the room.

Statement from Texans Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert C. McNair: pic.twitter.com/EXdwKZ4y4x
— Texans PR (@TexansPR) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/TexansPR/s... 27, 2017

Image: Members of the Houston Texans stand and kneel before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. During a meeting of NFL owners earlier in October, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said 'we can't have the inmates running the prison', referring to player demonstrations during the national anthem. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)