Thomas wants to see more proactive action
When NBA players walked out of playoff games this week in a protest built through solidarity against social injustice, police brutality and systemic racism, it started a movement.
Major League Baseball players and NHL players followed suit in the wake of Jacob Blake, a Black man, being shot by Wisconsin police. Plus, nine NFL teams didn’t hold practice.
The possibility of NFL players choosing not to play in games is a scenario that could unfold with multiple players around the league weighing their options.
As players contemplate a course of action on how to create tangible change, Texans veteran and Nimitz graduate Michael Thomas is advocating a proactive approach.
One of the most active NFL players in the Black Lives Matter movement and an NFL Players Association executive committee vice president, Thomas said Saturday the support of NFL owners like the Texans’ Cal McNair and the Chiefs’ Clark Hunt will be pivotal in informing how the players proceed. Among the initiatives Thomas supports is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill addressing policing practices and law enforcement accountability.
“We’re all in a situation where we’re like, ‘Hey, how can we use our voice and our platform to have the greatest impact?’ ” said Thomas, who applauded the NBA and WNBA players’ actions. “Is that approaching the team owners, the team presidents saying, ‘Hey, you have great contacts when it comes to Congress and when it comes to the state legislatures and governors.’ Those who have the power and ability to change these laws that need to be changed in order for us to have real change when it comes to not only police reform but trying to make sure that we don’t have instances where Jacob Blake is getting shot seven times in the back and there’s no type of justice for it, where there’s George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery.
“These are the people that have the ability to affect change. So if there’s a way that we can use our platform that first Thursday night game, it’s going to be huge. If we can work with the Chiefs and say, ‘Hey, can the McNair family and the Hunt family help us try to reach those who have the power to make changes and to pass the laws?’ Then, maybe we do that. To say that the players aren’t thinking about, ‘Hey, is the best thing to do to play or not play?’ Those are definitely discussions that are happening.”
Meanwhile, Texans tight end Jordan Akins emphasized he separates football from politics.
The third-year NFL player and former Rangers minor league baseball player has no plans to sit out of games.
“I’m here to play ball,” Akins said. “I think my political views are totally different. I mean, I try to separate my game from politics. While I’m in the building, I’m a Texan.”
The Texans huddled together after their scrimmage Thursday night to discuss social justice issues and their next course of action with the conversation including Thomas, Kenny Stills, J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson.
“We’re still working through a lot of stuff,” Thomas said. “I know you respect that. We probably don’t want to air it out as we continue to work and decide, ‘Hey, what exactly do we want to do?’ It’s kind of why we hadn’t put anything out just yet because we want to make sure it’s direct, it’s intentional and that it can actually bring about real change. When we met after the scrimmage, it was a raw conversation. It was passionate and it was real.”
Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien isn’t forecasting what will happen as far as whether players will walk out of games in protest, but it’s not something he has ruled out.
“I would say anything is possible,” O’Brien said. “Just speaking for the Houston Texans, I’m really proud of these guys. Our players are really thoughtful. They want to think about things. They don’t want to rush to make any decisions on anything. It’s been really enlightening to me.”
WR Coutee gets back onto the practice field
Texans wide receiver Keke Coutee returned to practice Saturday morning after being out for a week.
Coutee has been dealing with a minor stress fracture in his foot, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Until the injury, Coutee was having a strong training camp.
The Texans also got back outside linebacker Jon Greenard, who had been out for the past week with an undisclosed injury, and inside linebacker Dylan Cole, who underwent surgery last year to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Meanwhile, veteran defensive end J.J. Watt returned to practice. The team has been managing his workload throughout camp as he has practiced just a few times.
Cornerback Phillip Gaines (ankle) and wide receivers Isaiah Coulter (neck strain) and Chad Hansen didn’t practice.