The Houston Texans are speaking out following a local superintendent’s comments aimed at one of their Black teammates. Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and defensive end J.J. Watt, both White, called the statement “You can’t count on a Black quarterback,” ignorant, according to ABC 13.
Lynn Redden, superintendent of the Onalaska Independent School District, posted on the Houston Chronicle’s Facebook page, “When you need precision decision making you can’t count on a black quarterback,” Watt told reporters during a news conference Wednesday that we’d do better to ignore the remark altogether.
“I think it’s a very ignorant comment that doesn’t deserve any more play,” Watt said. “I don’t think anyone who speaks like that should get any run. It’s ridiculous.”
The offensive comment was sparked by a meme posted to the Houston Chronicle’s Facebook page referencing Deshaun Watson’s decision to hold onto the ball during the final seconds of the game the Texans lost to the Tennessee Titans Sunday.
“That may have been the most inept quarterback decision I’ve seen in the NFL. When you need precision decision making you can’t count on a black quarterback,” read the original remark.
Teammate Watt dismissed the comment, saying he completely trusts Watson. O’Brien was also appalled.
“In this day and age, it’s just amazing that that BS exists, but it does. We’re moving forward, and our fans love Deshaun … I feel like I wasted a minute and a half responding to that BS.”
