Houston Texans

Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans may be in some hot water with the NFL ... after the QB and 7 of his teammates showed up at the launch of his new restaurant this week.

The 25-year-old superstar was joined by teammates Laremy Tunsil, Duke Johnson, Tytus Howard, Roderick Johnson, Brandin Cooks and Charles Omenihu at the debut of his Lefty's cheesecake franchise in Houston on Tuesday.

Of course, the NFL has a strict COVID-19 policy against 3 or more players congregating outside team sanctioned events or traveling to games ... in hopes of preventing a potential spread.

Do the math -- that's more than 3 players.

Watson was asked whether he followed COVID-19 protocols during the big event ... and he said, "Yes, for sure. I mean, we had the masks."

But, by peeping the pics above, that's doesn't seem to be the case.

Watson continued ... "We did everything that we were supposed to do. 6 feet from different people. It was a restaurant opening. It wasn't really an event. It was a grand opening of my restaurant."

"So, people were coming in to get food and things like that and everyone was excited about it. So, it turned out pretty good, and right now from the messages I got from after, it's still popping."

It could become a big issue for the Texans -- the Raiders were hit with fines after Derek Carr and others failed to follow COVID protocol at Darren Waller's charity event earlier this season.

The NFL has said it's aware of the situation with Watson and the Texans -- but so far, no official comment.

Another day, another COVID scare in the NFL ... this time, it's the Houston Texans closing its team facility after a player has tested positive.

"We were informed last night that a Texans player has tested positive for COVID-19," the team said in a statement on Thursday morning.

"In consultation with the NFL and medical experts, we have made the decision to close the facility and conduct all operations virtually today."

The player has NOT been identified by the team -- there are reports it's a linebacker.

The noted the player in question "immediately self-isolated and contact tracing has begun."

"We will follow the NFL’s intensive protocols and guidance regarding the team’s operations. The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority."

The Texans are slated to play the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend. So far, that game is still scheduled to be played as planned.

The Houston Texans are shutting down their team facility ... after one of their players tested positive for COVID-19.

"Late last night, we received notice that a Texans player tested positive for COVID-19," the Texans said in a statement.

The infected player is reportedly backup guard Max Scharping, according to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson. The 24-year-old 2nd round draft pick has been placed on the reserve-COVID list.

The team says they've totally shut down their practice facility ... and have already started contact tracing to make sure no other players were exposed to the virus.

"In accordance with NFL protocols, the player immediately self-isolated and our Infection Control Officer and other members of the Infection Response Team began working with the NFL to perform contact tracing."

"Our facility will be closed today to players for deep cleaning."

Luckily for the Texans, the team is on their bye week ... so assuming there isn't a significant breakout, their November 8 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars likely won't be impacted.

"We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled bye week operations."

"The health and safety of our team, as well as our entire staff, are of highest priority."

"To lose a coach 4 games into the season doesn’t make a lot of sense to me."

That's Tom Brady going to bat for his old pal, Bill O'Brien, after the Houston Texans fired the guy just 4 weeks into the NFL season -- and it's clear TB12 thinks Bill got a raw deal.

"That was really tough to see. I’ve known Billy for a long time and I think he’s a hell of a coach," Brady told Jim Gray on his Westwood One Sports radio show.

FYI, Tom and Bill worked together for 5 years in New England from 2007 to 2011. O'Brien left to take over the football program at Penn State before accepting the head coaching job with the Texans in 2014.

"I think he does a great job," Brady said of O'Brien.

"Four weeks ago, everyone was so hopeful about what the season could become. You hate to see things transpire as they do and to lose a coach 4 games into the season doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. It’s always tough when you see that happen, especially 4 games into the year."

Brady also said he believes O'Brien was well-liked by his players, despite some reports to the contrary.

"Those guys really seemed to love playing for him."

"I think he has great leadership ability," Brady said. "It’s a very difficult part of the profession and I thought he did a great job in Houston over the years."

Of course, a helluva lot of people in Houston would disagree ... O'Brien (who was also the GM) traded away superstars like DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney -- without much to show for it.

Rudy Giuliani is FURIOUS at the Houston Texans for staying in their locker room for the national anthem before Thursday's game ... saying, "Maybe they should stay in the locker room forever."

"Maybe that's where they belong."

The former NYC mayor was at the 9/11 Memorial on the 19th anniversary of 9/11 when we asked him about the drama before the NFL season opener ... and Rudy didn't hold back.

"I think [the Houston Texans] should kiss the ground of the stadium that they're in America. Where the hell would they make that kinda money?!"

Rudy claims roughly "a third" of the players are from another country -- and should "thank God they're in America. Nobody else in this world has an immigration problem but America so people should stop doing hateful things about America."

Rudy says if players want to go down on a knee, "they should kiss the ground and say 'Thank you God that we're in the United States of America' because there's no place else we'd make this kinda money for playing a game."

Guiliani also said the players should have more humility -- because they're not the "real heroes" in this country.

"The real heroes aren't them. The real heroes are the men and women who ran into that building to save people."

Rudy also went after the Black Lives Matter movement -- saying it "hates police."

"They hate police and they call for the killing for the kinds of people who ran into this building and save them."

He concluded with the age-old "love it or leave it" battle cry.

"If [the Houston Texans] can't put their hand on their heart when the flag goes by, maybe you should live somewhere else."

"It's really disrespectful and it's disgusting just to see that and hear that go on."

Former Super Bowl champ James Jones was so shocked to hear booing during the Chiefs-Texans' pregame "moment of unity" ... he went OFF on the fans after the game.

"If you're going to boo, don't even come to the game," Jones said on NFL Network's post-game show. "Don't boo and then act like that, and then cheer us to score touchdowns when the game comes."

If you missed it ... players, coaches and personnel from both the Chiefs and Texans locked arms before their NFL season-opening game Thursday night.

The moment was powerful ... star QBs Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were front and center, arm-in-arm -- and the demonstration was all to show a united effort against racism.

But, stadium microphones picked up A LOT of booing during the moment from the nearly 16,000 fans in attendance and at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City -- and it really pissed Jones off.

"It's bigger than touchdowns," Jones said. "It's bigger than Super Bowls. It's bigger than all of that. I have two young kids and it hurts that somebody out there hates them because of the color of their skin. And, that is what we're trying to end. We're trying to end racism."

Houston star J.J. Watt said after the game the booing bothered him as well ... calling the reaction "unfortunate."

"I don’t fully understand that," Watt said. "There was no flag involved. There was nothing involved with that besides two teams coming together to show unity."

The mayor of Kansas City, Quinton Lucas, said he heard the boos too ... but claimed those were nothing more than a few bad apples in an otherwise great city.

Distance learning sucks if you don't have a dope computer to stay connected in school ... and Deshaun Watson knows it.

That's why the Houston Texans star QB teamed up with Reliant Energy to hand out $175,000 in tech Wednesday to students who need it!

Most Houston area schools have opted to begin the school year virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic ... creating tough situations for some families in dire financial straits.

Watson and Reliant decided to help out by working with the Comp-U-Dopt organization -- which specializes in "providing technology access and education to underserved youth."

Comp-U-Dopt says the $175k donation from Watson and Reliant will allow 500 STUDENTS to receive computers, which they can keep. How great is that!?

"Reliant will also fund afterschool student programming with Comp-U-Dopt for the next three years," the org says.

Watson didn't just cut a check -- he personally went down to the giveaway point in Houston and helped deliver the equipment to the families who needed it.

The 24-year-old baller is big in the community in Houston.

Houston Texans star Kenny Stills was one of nearly 100 people arrested during a protest in Louisville on Tuesday ... and the WR took his mug shot in a Breonna Taylor shirt.

The 28-year-old NFL player joined 86 others in a massive protest outside the home of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to seek justice for Taylor.

As part of the demonstration, the group of people -- which included "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" star Porsha Williams -- sat on Cameron's lawn and chanted ... urging him to levy charges against the cops involved in Taylor's tragic death.

A Lousiville Metro Police Dept. spokesperson says officers eventually told the group to leave ... but when they refused, all 87 were put in cuffs and hauled off to jail.

We're told Stills and the others were booked on 3 charges, including felony "intimidating a participant in a legal process."

As you can see in his mug shot, Stills was clearly NOT happy to be at the station ... and his shirt read, "Breonna Taylors Killers Are Still Police."

The LMPD spokesperson added of the incident, "The protestors chose to occupy the front yard of a home owned by the Kentucky Attorney General and continuously chant towards he and his neighbors."

"At his request, they were trespassed from the property. All were given the opportunity to leave, were told that remaining on the property would be unlawful, and chose not to leave."

Stills has consistently been one of the most vocal NFL players over the years when it comes to the search for social justice ... he's taken knees during the national anthem and has even tatted "Black Lives Matter" on his leg.

According to jail records, Stills was still in custody as of Wednesday morning.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien says he will join his players if they kneel during the national anthem this upcoming season ... saying he's "all for it."

B.O.B. has been one of the more outspoken coaches in sports since George Floyd's death ... and even attended his funeral service earlier this week alongside J.J. Watt.

Not only does O'Brien say he will support his players if they decide to demonstrate against social injustice during the season ... he'll join them by taking a knee.

"Yeah, I’ll take a knee, I’m all for it," O'Brien said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

"The players have a right to protest, a right to be heard and a right to be who they are. They're not taking a knee because they're against our flag. They're taking a knee because they haven't been treated equally in this country for over 400 years."

O'Brien is the first coach to confirm he will take a knee this upcoming season ... but Redskins HC Ron Rivera has also expressed support for protests after Adrian Peterson said he will "without a doubt" kneel.

NFL superstar J.J. Watt and Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien are among those mourning George Floyd's death on Tuesday ... with several members of the team attending the funeral service in Houston.

The Texans coach spoke at length last week about his frustrations over Floyd's death ... and vowed not to hold any off-season activities so players could attend the service.

Watt -- alongside former teammate D.J. Reader -- paid their respects to Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church ... as well as Texans chairman Cal McNair and other staffers.

Watt recently spoke out following Floyd's death ... saying, "I've seen the video and I think it's disgusting. I don't understand how that situation can't be remedied in a way that doesn't end in his death."

The Houston Astros paid their respects to George Floyd in a touching way Monday night ... lighting up their stadium's scoreboard with his picture and the words, "Rest In Power."

The scene was striking ... the 'Stros opened up their stadium so the photo was visible for miles -- and at the bottom of the pic, they typed out "Black Lives Matter."

The team also laid down flowers, a photograph and a candle for Floyd on the Minute Maid Park grass as well.

The Houston Texans also honored the 46-year-old the night before he was set to be laid to rest in his Texas hometown ... lighting up their stadium in his former high school's color scheme.

As we previously reported, Floyd tragically died late last month after a Minnesota cop knelt on his back and neck for over eight minutes during an arrest attempt.

The aftermath of his death sparked national outrage ... with protestors calling for real change in America.

A memorial service was held for Floyd on Monday in Houston ... where family members and victims of other police brutality incidents gave emotional and powerful speeches.

J.J. Watt says he's not sure whether the 2020 NFL season will take place as originally planned -- but he's training his ass off anyway because it's better to "stay ready."

"I don't know what's going to happen," Watt tells TMZ Sports ... "I'm just like everybody else. We're all kind of just waiting and seeing."

"The uncertainty is the worst part of it all. We don't know what's going to happen. But, I'm training like it's gonna happen on time. And, I'm looking forward to playing -- fans, no fans -- whatever it is. I'm just looking forward to competing and just doing what we do."

The Houston Texans superstar -- who's also hosting "Ultimate Tag" on FOX -- believes the return of football is super important ... but not at the expense of American lives.

"We love the game. We love the competition ... as long as it's safe for everybody," Watt explained.

"You have to remember we have coaches who are older. We have people helping out on the sidelines and staff members. So, as long it's safe for everybody and as long as everybody is comfortable and confident, I'm all for it because I think it does help return some normalcy and it gives people something to be excited about, to cheer for again."

"And, we're looking forward to that opportunity if it's safe."

Watt says he's been staying in touch with his teammates via Zoom meetings -- but jokes about some players not wanting to show off their homes to the rest of the team!

"One guy just points his [camera] at his ceiling fan for 2 hours straight during the meeting! Give us a little something. I mean geez, what are you hiding!?"

Besides training, we also talked to Watt about "Ultimate Tag" -- airs Wednesday night on FOX -- and says the athletes he's got on the show are FREAKS!

In fact, Watt says he doesn't think half the players in the League could keep up with the crazy athletes on "Ultimate Tag" ... which sounds like a challenge to us!!!

As for the NFL stars who would do the best on the show???

Here's a shocker -- Watt loves Lamar Jackson and Tyreek Hill ... some of the most talented players EVER!

But seriously, JJ -- pull some strings and get 'em on the show!!!

Bill O'Brien is sick and tired of hearing about his awful DeAndre Hopkins trade ... and now he's begging fans to stop ripping him for the inexplicable move.

"The best thing I can tell the fans is to please ... I think we have to let it all play out!" the Houston head coach said Thursday. "Let it play out. Let the whole thing play out!"

O'Brien has been slammed for jettisoning D-Hop and a 4th-round pick to Arizona for David Johnson (plus his terrible contract) and some other draft picks ... with fans wondering what the hell he's doing with the Texans' roster.

FYI, Hopkins is arguably the best receiver in the league -- AND he's on a team-friendly deal -- while Johnson hasn't rushed for more than 1,000 yards since 2016.

But, Bill says he's got a master plan going ... and is pleading for patience.

"I would say let's review it a year from now," O'Brien says. "Two years from now. Three years from now. Let's let it all play out."

Bill told reporters he's seen some analytics that have made the trade make sense in his mind ... saying he feels "very good about the value that we got for the trade."

FORMER #1 OVERALL PICK FIGHT!!!!

Jameis Winston is firing back at David Carr after the ex-Houston Texans QB ripped him for a training drill he posted on social media ... with Jameis telling the guy to straight-up piss off!!

If you missed it ... Winston posted footage of himself Thursday dodging a heavy bag that was supposed to simulate pass rushers coming at his head in the pocket.

The training was immediately shaded by Carr, who wrote, "Stop paying your friends to train you. Stop. Get some help."

Carr added, "I’ve been in a lot of collapsing pockets and never once did I have defenders just flying at my head."

Carr ain't kidding ... the 76 times he was sacked back in 2002 is STILL an NFL single-season record -- but Winston clearly didn't care for his opinion nonetheless.

"Hey bro I have nothing but love for you!" Winston said. "Reach out to help or mind your business though."

Jameis continued, "I’ve been working with my personal trainer since I was 14! We built this from the bottom and we’re still building. Treat others how you want to be treated bro! #Lahater #SocialDistancing."

Winston even accompanied his epic clapback with a video of a pass rusher coming straight for his head!!