Bob McNair regrets apologizing for ‘inmates’ comment

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair came under fire last year when it was reported that he made some controversial remarks about national anthem protests at NFL owners’ meetings, but you may be surprised to hear what he regrets the most about the situation.

In an interview with Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal this week, McNair basically recanted the apology he issued after word leaked that he said “we can’t have the inmates running the prison” regarding national anthem protests.

“The main thing I regret is apologizing,” McNair said. “I really didn’t have anything to apologize for.”

The assumption was that McNair was referring to players as “inmates,” urging his fellow owners to take back control and not allow kneeling and other forms of demonstration during the national anthem. However, McNair has since claimed he was referring to NFL executives at the league office, which is something he reiterated while speaking with Beaton.

McNair, who said he feels he is unfairly portrayed in the media, said he was not happy that something he said at a private league meeting was leaked to the public.

“We were talking about a number of things, but we were also washing some of our dirty linen, which you do internally,” he said. “You don’t do that publicly. That’s what I was addressing: The relationship of owners and the league office. “In business, it’s a common expression. But the general public doesn’t understand it, perhaps.”

As for forcing players to stand during the national anthem, that is a belief McNair has not backed from. He said he understands the concept of freedom of speech but that it doesn’t extend to employees of a company — at least without consequences.

“As employers, we set conditions for all of our employees,” McNair said. “We don’t allow political meetings or statements or that sort of thing during working hours. You wouldn’t let somebody working at McDonald’s, when somebody pulls through, give them a hamburger and say, ‘I don’t know why you’re eating that beef, why aren’t you a vegetarian?’ You don’t allow that. Well, that’s freedom of expression.”

There have been some reports this offseason that make it seem as though McNair will go to great lengths to avoid having national anthem protests on his sideline, but he denied that as well. He also complained that the media doesn’t cover enough of his charitable contributions, such as the funerals he paid for after the Charleston church shooting in 2015.

Many around the league have a perception of McNair that is not going to change. The fact that his biggest regret is apologizing for his “inmates” remark will not help his public image.