Former Houston Texans owner Bob McNair infamously described the player protests of racial discrimination and police brutality during the national anthem before games as "inmates running the prison" in 2017, remarks that superstar Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins said changed his entire perception of the power structure in the NFL.
"It feels like I'm a slave again. Listen to the master, go to work," Hopkins told Cam Wolf of GQ. "We realize now what goes on above us. You can't sugarcoat that."
Hopkins said he decided against practicing after hearing McNair's remarks and even considered skipping the team's next game.