O'Brien rips 'idiotic' remark about QB Watson

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[September 20, 2018]    Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien responded harshly Wednesday to controversial comments made online by a Texas school superintendent about quarterback Deshaun Watson.

 Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien on the side line during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

Lynn Redden of the Onalaska Independent School District in East Texas wrote "you can't count on a black quarterback" on the Houston Chronicle's Facebook page Monday, following the Texans' 20-17 loss on Sunday at Tennessee.

Redden subsequently issued an apology while speaking to the Chronicle, telling the newspaper he thought he was responding to a private message from a friend.

O'Brien addressed the incident at length during his press conference Wednesday.

"I really don't want to waste a lot of time responding to outdated, inaccurate, ignorant, idiotic statements," he said. "I'll just let Deshaun's proven success on the field, his character off the field speak for itself. He's one of the greatest guys I've ever coached. He represents everything that's right about football, about life. His teammates respect him, his coaching staff respects him.

"In this day and age it's just amazing that this B.S. exists -- but it does. But we're moving forward and our fans, they love Deshaun and we're really concentrating on the Giants."

Watson, 23, shrugged off the comments.

"That's just everyday life, I guess," he said. "But I'm all about love, so I don't have none of that. I don't focus on none of that. I love all people and that's what I focus on."

Through two games this season, the second-year quarterback from Clemson has completed 39 of 66 passes for 4866 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Houston (0-2) hosts the Giants (0-2) on Sunday.

According to the Chronicle, the Onalaska school board will meet Saturday to discuss Redden's contract.

"Onalaska ISD regrets that an inappropriate comment has been attributed to the district's superintendent," the board said in a statement, per the Chronicle. "The OISD does not condone negative comments or actions against any race. The district values every individual and therefore the district will take the appropriate measures to address the situation expeditiously and completely."

--Field Level Media

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