Houston Texans owner Bob McNair suggests that Andre Johnson had "lost a step"

Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has suggested that the club released veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson because he had "lost a step".

The Texans ended the 33-year-old's 12-year career with the AFC South side when they took the decision to cut him after he baulked at the idea of playing a lesser role in their offense in the 2015 season.

"Every athlete I think would like to play forever," McNair told ESPN. "They never want to acknowledge that they've lost a step or they can't quite do what they did before. Just look at history. Look at all the players. It just happens time and time again.

"We don't like to acknowledge that we're getting older. None of us do. That's just human nature, and I don't think that's going to change. They're used to being a star and they'd like to continue being a star. I don't blame them, I understand that."

Johnson joined the Texans' bitter rivals the Indianapolis Colts two days after his release.