Drew Brees Ripped By Saints and LeBron James for Anthem Comments

After sticking his cleat in his mouth with an ill-advised and tone-deaf comment about kneeling before games as a form of protest, New Orleans Saints quarterback was hit from all sides on social media by athletes from other sports, opponents in the NFL and even his own teammates.

Asked about the prospect of NFL players taking a knee in protest during the national anthem this season the way Colin Kaepernick once did, Brees took issue with the notion that non-violent protest before kickoff was appropriate.

“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees told Yahoo Finance. “Let me just tell you what I see, what I feel, when the national anthem is played, and when I look at the flag of the United States. I envision my two grandfathers, who fought for this country during World War II, one in the Army, and one in the Marine Corps. Both risking their lives to protect our country, and to try and make our country, and this world, a better place.”

The remark was met with harsh reactions from all sides, including from Brees’s New Orleans teammate and top target, Michael Thomas.

He don’t know no better.

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020

We don’t care if you don’t agree and whoever else how about that.

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020

New Orleans star running back Alvin Kamara was more succint.

oop…

— Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) June 3, 2020

Malcolm Jenkins, who signed with the Saints his offseason, posted a video responding directly to his new teammate.

View this post on Instagram

As I was trying to muster up the energy and find the words to address Drew Brees’s comments I recorded this video. Before I could post it, Drew reached out to me to discuss his point of view. All in all, I’m still posting this video because it’s important for anyone who wants to consider themself an ally to know how these words and actions affect those who you want to help. Drew’s words during his interview were extremely painful to hear and I hope he rectifies them with real action.

A post shared by Malcolm Jenkins (@malcolmjenkins27) on Jun 3, 2020 at 2:42pm PDT

And longtime Saint Cameron Jordan also took a shot at his quarterback.

Be a better ally…

— cameron jordan (@camjordan94) June 3, 2020

Devin and Jason McCourty, who play for the New England Patriots and are also both active with the Players Coalition, also took Brees to task.

“This is a disgrace,” the twins said in a statement. “To speak about your grandfathers as if there weren’t black men fighting next to them.Those men later returned to a country that hated them. Don’t avoid the issue and try to make it about a flag or the military. Fight like your grandfathers for whats right!

There were not the only ones.

Damn drew hurt me with that one🤦🏾‍♂️!!

— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) June 3, 2020

He said his piece and shared his opinion now y’all know were he stands time to move on….NEXT

— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) June 3, 2020

For saying that dumb shii , give kapernick his job .

— AJ Brown (@Brown1arthur) June 3, 2020

NBA star LeBron James also took issue with what Brees had to say.

men who fought as well for this country. I asked him question about it and thank him all the time for his commitement. He never found Kap peaceful protest offensive because he and I both know what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong! God bless you. 🙏🏾✊🏾👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who was friends with George Floyd and has been at the forefront of coverage since the murder of his friend, also had some words for Brees.

Stephen Jackson responded to Drew Brees saying he will "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag."

(via @DaTrillStak5) pic.twitter.com/56ZyC2W8yY

— ESPN (@espn) June 4, 2020

One Saints player, defensive end Marcus Davenport, did hop on Twitter to defend his teammate.

“Drew wasn’t talking about the current protest, the riots or really anything besides HIS feelings on kneeling during the National Anthem,” Davenport said. “He even explained what they were, the basis and that he actually stands with us. Do we have to entirely agree with him, no.”

All the reactions prompted Brees to attempt to clarify his remarks to ESPN’s Mike Triplett.

“I love and respect my teammates and I stand right there with them in regards to fighting for racial equality and justice,” Brees said. “I also stand with my grandfathers who risked their lives for this country and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis.”

The clarification may not do much to prevent opposing defenders from being extra excited to face the 41-year-old QB next season, but it may prevent him from taking any further criticism.

It will be interesting to see whether NBC, which has an agreement in place for Brees to join the network once he retires from the NFL, re-thinks whether they want the one-time Super Bowl winner to join their team.

Especially after the reaction he received from some protesters in New Orleans on Wednesday night …

Brief chat of “FUCK DREW BREES” at protest in New Orleans. Some context (from @Amie_Just): https://t.co/8dAqSqjpId pic.twitter.com/ha7KsAimBK

— Bryn Stole (@brynstole) June 4, 2020

Early Thursday morning, Brees, perhaps after seeing what fans were saying about him while protesting in New Orleans, issued an apology, not a clarification.

View this post on Instagram

I would like to apologize to my friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday. In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused. In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country. They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy. This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character. This is where I stand: I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference. I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today. I acknowledge that we as Americans, including myself, have not done enough to fight for that equality or to truly understand the struggles and plight of the black community. I recognize that I am part of the solution and can be a leader for the black community in this movement. I will never know what it’s like to be a black man or raise black children in America but I will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right. I have ALWAYS been an ally, never an enemy. I am sick about the way my comments were perceived yesterday, but I take full responsibility and accountability. I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening…and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen. For that, I am very sorry and I ask your forgiveness.

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on Jun 4, 2020 at 5:22am PDT