The racist underbelly of the NFL's ownership groups has been exposed in recent years. DeAndre Hopkins was the key offensive piece for the Texans when comments made by the team's owner, Bob McNair, leaked, referring to players as "inmates." During a recent interview with GQ, Hopkins recalled his emotions during the fiasco and his decision to ultimately support his teammates.
"I'll take my ass home. I went home. I ain't going to practice today. Hell no. I was about to not play in the game," Hopkins said. "I was about to sit out the game. But I definitely wasn’t going to practice. A couple of my teammates about to follow me." The wide receiver then went on to explain why McNair's comments had such a detrimental impact on the locker room.
"It's hard for people to understand what that means, when your family was slaves... Not even too long ago, people couldn't even drink out of the same water faucet. Not even 100 years ago," Hopkins continued. "People don't understand. I'm from South Carolina. I'm from a real cultured state, where there's still racism daily. Still, places are segregated. I really didn't want to play in that game, dog. I was like, 'Shit, this is bigger than a game, man.' I’ve got to stand for something [for my children]... It feels like I'm a slave again. Getting ran over. Listen to the master, go to work. But I took into consideration that he was older—RIP, his soul. He was a good man, but some people they don't really… When you grow up certain places, you talk a certain way."
Although he was disturbed by McNair's 2017 comments, Hopkins' loyalty to his teammates ultimately swayed him to play in the following game. "My teammates, man. I play for them. I don't play for nobody else but my teammates and my family. That's it."
In addition to addressing McNair's 2017 comments, Hopkins touched on the disappointment he felt when the Texans didn't give Colin Kaepernick an opportunity following Deshaun Watson's injury.
"I was upset. Everybody needed to give Kaep a look," Hopkins said. "He can help a team win. I've seen a lot of quarterbacks that's not as good as Kaep, but teams don't want the heat behind them."
