The term “opt out” has become a familiar phrase in pro sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
NFL players have chosen to opt out of the season, especially if they are at a high level of risk to falling ill or have family members who could catch the novel coronavirus.
Houston Texans associate head coach Romeo Crennel is 73 years old and in the high risk category when it comes to COVID-19. However, the three-time Super Bowl winning defensive coordinator never considered opting out of 2020.
“The COVID, it has impacted everybody and all of us, but I’m a football coach,” Crennel said. “I’m in the game of football. So, when they say let’s play, even though I’m high-risk, I see what we’re trying to do to protect the players and the coaches with social distancing.”
The Texans have showed tremendous initiative in implementing steps to keep COVID-19 out of team facilities, and Crennel sees how hard the club is working to keep their workplace COVID free.
“I mean, they’ve got hand sanitizers all throughout the building,” Crennel said. “They clean it constantly. I feel like they’re trying to be proactive and protecting us that way. I feel like I want to give it a shot and see what happens and hopefully, knock wood, that it’s not a bad outcome.
“Hey, I’m in football just like you’re in football. You’ve been in it a long time. That’s what I know and I’m going to go with it.”
Like the 2017 season, Crennel is in a roving advisory role while a younger position coach takes over as defensive coordinator. Defensive line coach Anthony Weaver is adding the defensive coordinator role to his duties, and coach Bill O’Brien has Crennel helping Weaver with the transition.
“We have some young coaches on the defensive side,” said Crennel. “Anthony, I can help him because of my experience. So, that’s what I’m doing and whatever Bill needs me to do. Whatever way that I can help with the defense, I’m available to do that.”
Crennel wasn’t going to opt out of the season, and the Texans staff hopes to benefit from his presence in the building as they seek to defend their AFC South title.
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