HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- In the background of Wednesday's practice across from NRG Stadium, there was confusion and tension about how much access media would have for the rest of training camp.
The Texans intended to shut down preseason arrangement, which allows for credentialed media to observe the entirety of practices with limited filming and photography.
Instead of watching the full, two-plus hours of practice, reporters would have been granted a small fraction of that time.
Interviews would have been arranged similarly, with the Texans' public relations staff making a few players available at a podium.
The issue: all of this would've been against the rules, which state "all daily practices must be open in their entirety to local media through Aug. 26."
Reporters eventually sent word to the Pro Football Writers of America, who then contacted the league office, who then contacted the Texans to let them know the deal.
The way it was explained is, before COVID-19 protocols when locker rooms were open, teams could limit access after a certain point as long as they had open locker rooms.
The Texans intended to adopt a version of this by allowing reporters to interview players after practice. But the rules were already adjusted for closed locker rooms.
SportsRadio 610 Texans insider John McClain wrote this in the Houston Chronicle:
"The Texans were informed of the violation, and they changed back to training camp mode.
"Now reporters can continue to watch all of practice until two days before the last preseason game Aug. 28 against Tampa Bay at NRG Stadium.
"During regular season, teams can limit reporters to watching a minimal amount of practice, usually just stretching and warmups.
"Under the Texans’ first two coaches, Dom Capers and Gary Kubiak, reporters were allowed to watch all of practice all the time. They changed to the minimum when Bill O’Brien was hired in 2014."
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