Texans Deny Report Saying They Won’t Sign Players Who Protested the Anthem

The Houston Texans are denying reports that they have an unwritten policy of refusing to sign new players who protested the national anthem.

On March 3, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Texans are set to turn away any free agents who have refused to stand in respect for the country during the national anthem.

According to the Chronicle’s Jerome Solomon, the team didn’t have a written directive, “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.”

But the organization denied the report calling the claim “categorically false and without merit,” Sportsnet reported.

“A recent report suggests that the Houston Texans would no sign a player who has protested in support of social justice issues is categorically false and without merit. The Texans ownership, coaching, personnel and executive staff sign and hire employees based on talent, character and fit within our organization,” the statement read.

The report comes on the heels of a second season of players protesting during the playing of the national anthem.

Still, it is not much of a secret that Texans Owner Robert McNair is no fan of the player protests. “You can’t let the inmates run the prison,” McNair said during an NFL owners meeting last year. He later apologized for the quip.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.