Bob McNair expressed regret for comments in meeting with Texans players

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One day after drawing a harsh rebuke from Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown and having two of his players walk out before practice following his widely-criticized remarks at the NFL owners meetings, Texans owner Bob McNair held a meeting with the players Saturday morning.

McNair expressed regret for his remarks to the players, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

McNair later issued his second statement on the issue, reiterating that he wasn't referring to players when he said, "We can't have the inmates running the prison."

"As I said, I was not referring to our players when I made a very regretful comment during the owners meetings last week," McNair said Saturday afternoon. "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.

"I am truly sorry to the players for how this has impacted them and the perception that it has created of me which could not be further from the truth. Our focus going forward, personally and as an organization, will be towards making meaningful progress regarding the social issues that mean so much to our players and our community."

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McNair drew heavy criticism for his remarks locally and nationally, angering the players who work for him and other NFL players around the league. McNair's comments were widely characterized as insensitive.

They prompted Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and rookie running back D'Onta Foreman to leave NRG Stadium on Friday and not return for practice as a direct, angry reaction to McNair's remarks.

Texans owner Bob McNair met with Texans players Saturday morning after it was revealed on Friday that he referred to them as 'inmates' in a prison while he commented on league-wide national anthem protests. Texans owner Bob McNair met with Texans players Saturday morning after it was revealed on Friday that he referred to them as 'inmates' in a prison while he commented on league-wide national anthem protests. Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff Image 1 of / 33 Caption Close Bob McNair expressed regret for comments in meeting with Texans players 1 / 33 Back to Gallery

"I know they were upset," McNair told The Chronicle prior to issuing his statement.. "I wanted to answer their questions. I told them if I had it to do over again I wouldn't use that expression."

McNair issued a statement of apology Friday morning after the remarks, made at a recent NFL owners meeting about players' anthem protests, surfaced.

All of the Texans' players are currently planning to travel on the team charter flight to Seattle on Saturday in advance of a road game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Several Texans players contemplated walking out before practice Friday. The controversy remains a simmering issue for the Texans and other NFL players.

"I think the comments were disrespectful, I think it was ignorant, I think it was embarrassing," Brown said Friday. "I think it angered a lot of players, including myself. We put our bodies and minds on the line every time we step on the field. To use an analogy of inmates in prison, I would say that's disrespectful. That's how I feel about it."

Texans coach Bill O'Brien, general manager Rick Smith and assistant head coach Romeo Crennel met with players for 90 minutes Friday to discuss the situation, pushing back the start of practice, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. By all accounts, the meeting went positively and players were able to voice their opinions and frustrations and were convinced to practice.

"When it happened, there's a thousand emotions going through your mind," Brown said. "Obviously, one of the emotions is to leave the building immediately. We decided to go to work. The situation's not over. It's something that we'll reconvene and talk about again, but we had practice."

Brown raised his fist during the national anthem last year during a loss to the New England Patriots as the lone Texans player to protest. The Texans' players are planning some type of demonstration Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

"It's frustrating the climate we're in, as a country, as a league," Brown said. "The climate that we're in right now to have that be said is crazy. To have that said, it's horrible.

"It's frustrating, but I don't think it should discourage anybody. I think you stand with your beliefs. They feel how they feel. You've got to continue to feel how you feel. Hopefully at some point, we'll meet at some kind of middle ground."

John McClain contributed to this report.