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In a strong message of rejection aimed at team owner Bob McNair's inflammatory comments comparing NFL players to prisoners, a majority of Houston Texans knelt in protest during the U.S. National Anthem, the latest move in a long-raging battle over the question of patriotic spectacles in the National Football League.
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The comment incensed players in a league where Black people make up the majority of athletes, as well as fans sympathetic to those taking a knee or raising a fist during "The "Star-Spangled Banner" to protest racial oppression by the U.S. criminal justice system and law enforcement agencies.
The opening ceremony of the Houston Texans' game against the Seattle Seahawks was not broadcast live on CBS. But the network's "Post Game Show" aired a clip of Houston's players collectively taking a knee with arms linked along the sideline during the anthem.
According to the Seattle Times, nine of the Texans stood for the anthem, but the rest were kneeling or seated. The New York Times said about 40 players in all refused to stand.
The players were reportedly planning an en masse demonstration against McNair over his choice of words.
"We can't have the inmates running the prison," McNair was quoted as saying during a recent meeting with league executives and owners, beseeching them to think about the league's profitability amid the protests.
The NFL Players Coalition responded with a written invitation inviting McNair, league commissioner Roger Goodell and free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a meeting of the group for the purpose of discussing "immediate concerns before additional progress can be made." The letter has since been published by ESPN.
"Many players have been deeply troubled by the disturbing comments made by Texans' owner Bob McNair," the letter said.
"It is ironic that such a quote would emerge in the midst of an ongoing struggle to highlight injustices suffered by people of color, including our nation's deeply flawed approach to criminal justice and inhumane treatment of imprisoned people,” it continued. “The events that have unfolded the past several days have upset and angered many players and continues to demonstrate the lack of seriousness that some league officials are approaching our discussions. It is this lack of earnest words and actions that provoke and reinforce the continuation of our protest.
"As long as the prevailing reality of our league includes a culture where owners feel such behavior and language is permissible, our cause will continue to be stifled and progress will remain elusive. This isn't about being a player or a club owner – but basic human decency.
"Regardless of our views, our disappointment and our frustration, we believe dialogue remains the only path forward, though our patience is being continually disrespected and is wearing thin."
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Concluding, the letter noted that until the NFL "publicly demonstrates its commitment to an actual process of listening to our grievances, we will continue to peacefully demonstrate for equality and justice for all."
Over the course of various tweets and public appearances last month, President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to blast players taking part in the protests, controversially telling NFL team owners that they should ban any player who kneels and “Get that son of a bitch off the field.”
Trump's opposition to the protest has further galvanized national opinion on the issue.
In a public apology after meeting on Saturday with the players, McNair, 79, a billionaire contributor to Trump's presidential campaign, insisted that his "inmates" metaphor had been misinterpreted.
"I was not referring to our players when I made a very regretful comment during the owners meeting last week," he said. "I was referring to the relationship between the league office and team owners and how they have been making significant strategic decisions affecting our league without adequate input from ownership over the past few years."
He added: "I am truly sorry to the players for how this has impacted them and the perception that it has created for me which could not be further from the truth."
The national anthem protests began in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, then a San Francisco 49ers quarterback, began sitting and later kneeling during the anthem to call attention to police shootings of unarmed black men in the United States.
The star earned both praise and insults for his protests, which came during the height of protests against police brutality and inspired similar acts from his fellow players. Kaepernick remains unsigned by an NFL team ahead of the 2017 season after opting out of his 49ers contract in March.
He has filed a claim of illegal collusion against the league's owners.
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