Houston Texans

Colin Kaepernick to the Houston Texans is basically a done deal -- so says Shawne Merriman, who personally knows coach Bill O'Brien from their University of Maryland days.

We got Merriman leaving Poppy in L.A. -- and the ex-NFL star seemed convinced that his old buddy Bill (an ex-Terrapins asst.) is gonna pull the trigger on Kaepernick with Deshaun Watson sidelined.

"I know he's about that life. He'll do it," Merriman told TMZ Sports. "If he's still the same person ... 85-90 percent Colin will be in Houston."

Bob McNair's "inmates" comments could serve as free agent repellent ... scaring off top NFL players who simply don't want to play for the Houston Texans owner ... so says Kenny Smith.

The former Rockets star is a legend in Houston and says McNair's comments at a recent NFL owner's meeting -- where he said, "Can't have the inmates running the prison" -- didn't fall on deaf ears.

"It will be difficult to attract great free agents," Smith says ... noting that McNair has to "really make a big stance" to prove he's not the racially insensitive jerk some of his own players think he is.

Remember, DeAndre Hopkins was so pissed at McNair he walked out of Texans practice -- so, who's gonna willingly join a team with so much internal drama?

12:05 PM PT -- A rep for the Texans says Clowney insists there "was no hidden meaning behind his Halloween costume. He was not taking a 'shot' at anyone. It was just that – a costume at a Halloween party," according to the Houston Chronicle.

Jadeveon Clowney rocked an ORANGE PRISON JUMPSUIT to the Texans' Halloween party ... seemingly in response to Houston team owner Bob McNair's controversial comments.

JC isn't the first Texan to outwardly show displeasure with BM after his "you can't have the inmates running the prison" comment.

DeAndre Hopkins bolted practice last week and most of the squad -- including Clowney -- took a knee for the anthem before Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

As for the actual party ... it went down last night in H-Town, with everyone from Deshaun Watson, Kareem Jackson, Alfred Blue and Bruce Ellington in attendance.

The Houston Texans had a mixed response to their owner's comment comparing kneeling players to prison inmates ... but the majority took a knee.

About 25 Texans players knelt during the National Anthem ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks -- which looked kinda awkward since some other players chose to stand.

The kneeling appears to be a direct response to Bob McNair's comment last week when he said "You can't have the inmates running the prison" in reference to players who kneel in protest.

The backlash was swift, and McNair apologized for his phrasing ... but not before one of his players, DeAndre Hopkins, left Friday's practice in reaction to the news.

J.J. Watt didn't let a little thing like a broken leg keep him from throwing out the first pitch in a HUGE Game 3 of the World Series in Houston ... and obviously -- the crowd loved it!!!

Watt's a hometown hero for raising more than $37 MILLION for Hurricane Harvey relief ... so you gotta think the fans will give him a pass for the pitch to Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel being juuuuuuust a bit outside.

J.J.'s season with the Texans is over after having a season-ending surgery a few weeks ago ... but clearly he can still have an impact on the baseball field.

Houston Texans superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins walked out of Texans practice Friday because he was so pissed off at team owner Bob McNair for comparing kneeling players to prison inmates.

Hopkins is the 2nd biggest star on the team behind J.J. Watt -- and according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, he was extremely offended by the comments McNair made at a recent NFL owner's meeting.

The comments: "Can't have the inmates running the prison." McNair has apologized but it's clearly not sitting well with Texans players.

Schefter says Hopkins did not practice and left the facility. ESPN is also reporting other Texans players wanted to boycott practice and needed to be convinced to stay.

Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson says he's aware the kneeling protests might be hurting NFL ratings -- but he's not fazed, telling TMZ Sports, "We feel how we feel."

There are reports NFL viewership is down from 2016 -- some people are pointing the finger at the national anthem protests ... saying fans have had enough.

We got Kareem out in NYC -- who's locked arms with his teammates but not taken a knee -- and asked him if the decline in ratings makes him think twice about speaking out.

"It may be messing with the ratings a little bit," Jackson admits ... "It is what it is though."

"We feel how we feel and that's that. At the end of the day, [they are] peaceful protests and we're all about equality."

Mia Khalifa says she loooooves Houston Texans rookie Deshaun Watson ... but insists it's strictly platonic.

The ex-porn star wished the QB a happy 22nd birthday Thursday with a video of them playing mini basketball in her apartment this past June ... leaving people speculating whether they were a "thing."

But we spoke with Mia who tells us there's nothing but serious friendship goin' on ... and it all started over a home-cooked meal when Deshaun moved to H-Town.

Mia says she lives close to Watson and, with him being new to the area, she invited him to her place for some hospitality ... and they've been tight ever since. No sex though.

Still ... good for you, Deshaun. Good for you.

Two former NFL stars are hoping their former teammate, Andre Johnson, can help spearhead a J.J. Watt-style recovery effort in Miami.

Bryant McKinnie and Phillip Buchanon both joined the "TMZ Sports" TV show this week -- after leaving Miami right before Hurricane Irma struck.

The guys said the city is in desperate need of help and they're hoping to launch a fundraising initiative like Watt.

Both Bryant and Philip went to the University of Miami, where AJ went to school -- and since Andre knows J.J. Watt (from the Houston Texans), they're hoping he can be the piece that brings everyone together.

Case of the Mondays? Here are the Houston Texans cheerleaders partyin' in bikinis to make everything all better!!

The lovely ladies held their 1st Annual HTC Picnic Sunday ... full of chillin', grillin', volleyball killin', and of course, tons of photo ops with pool inflatables.

Seems like there's a friendly competition between HTC and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders for hottest squad in the NFL ... and we're here for it.

Trust us ... you're gonna want to check out all the hot pics from the epic pool party.

Houston Texans star linebacker Brian Cushing says he's pretty pumped for his team's new QB Deshaun Watson -- but he's not convinced he'll be the starter ... yet.

Cushing and his wife are out in Philly for the NFL Draft -- and after Houston selected the Clemson star with the #12 pick, we asked Cushing for his quick reaction.

Of course, Watson will have to battle for the #1 job with Tom Savage -- a 4th year QB out of Rutgers.

We all know Devon Still's daughter, Leah, is a fighter ... but the 6'5" defensive end ain't no slouch either -- and tells TMZ Sports he's battling like crazy to get back in the NFL.

Still's currently a free agent after spending most of his 2016 season with the Houston Texans on injured reserve following a foot injury in Week 4.

But the 27-year-old says he's been training and rehabbing like a maniac -- and he's laser-focused on getting back on an NFL roster in 2017.

NFL star DeAndre Hopkins says his mom was blinded and physically scarred for life in a brutal domestic violence incident ... and he's sharing his story with high school kids.

Hopkins was the guest speaker at Wisdom High School in Houston, TX, where he recalled the terrible day when he was 12 years old and his mother was the victim of an acid attack. The assault left her blind in both eyes and caused serious damage to one side of her face.

The Houston Texans WR says his mother has never seen him play a pro football game as a result of the attack.

DeAndre's point was to show the students what can happen when an abusive relationship spirals out of control. He advised the kids how to identify warning signs and how to help if someone they know is in danger.

Hopkins is an advocate for AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) which has operated in Houston for almost 40 years.

Texans All-Pro hell raiser Jadaveon Clowney is taking a stand in the franchise's QB conundrum ... saying he's 100% behind Brock Osweiler being the team's signal caller of the future.

Osweiler signed a $72 million contract to be the team's QB before last season, but struggled mightily throughout the year, eventually being benched for backup Tom Savage.

The Texans still managed to make the playoffs, and most experts believe a change in QB is coming either through the draft, free agency, or a trade for Tony Romo.

We got Clowney out in Vegas and when we asked where he stands on the quarterback situation he made it clear ... he stands right next to the 6'7" Osweiler.

Bad news for Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler -- the owner basically just said he's looking to replace his $72 million man.

When discussing Brock's underwhelming 1st season with the Texans, owner Bob McNair said, "We need better performance out of the position. We'll probably look at a young QB as we go into draft."

Ouch.

Welcome to the league, rook.

Houston Texans rookie defensive back KJ Dillon got stuck with a $16,000 dinner bill Monday night after a big night out with some of his teammates ... a night that included $7,700 in cognac!!!

The DBs hit up Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston -- where they crushed everything from steak to lobster to bacon wrapped scallops.

And don't forget the 22 glasses of Hennessy Paradis Imperial -- $7,700!

Total bill $16,255 ... and that does NOT include tip!

Dillon later tweeted, "When you get left with the tab ..."

FYI, Dillon ain't exactly making Brock Osweiler money ... he only signed a 4 -year deal worth $2.798 mil ... which included a $234,936 signing bonus.