NFL owner likens protesting players to 'inmates'

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has already rushed out an apology for his insensitive comment during a special league meeting to discuss the business impacts players protesting the national anthem are having on the game. 

ESPN The Magazine reported McNair's comment: "We can't have the inmates running the prison." 

McNair's apology: "I regret that I used that expression. I never meant to offend anyone and I was not referring to our players. I used a figure of speech that was never intended to be taken literally. I would never characterize our players or our league that way and I apologize to anyone who was offended by it." 

According to Bleacher Report, McNair's used the "inmates" expression after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones delivered a speech aimed at finding a solution to the protests, which he believes are hurting the league's overall business. 

CNN reported Friday that the NFL's television ratings are down 5 percent this year, which is actually less than the 8 percent drop the four major networks – NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox – have experienced in prime time.