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outdated, inaccurate, ignorant, idiotic statements," he said.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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