Saints QB Drew Brees stands up to President Trump by standing by flag protest apology
If there was any question about the sincerity of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ apology to his black teammates and fellow NFL players for his comments on kneeling during the national anthem to protest racism and police brutality and his belief that they showed disrespect to the flag, consider his response to President Donald Trump on Friday night.
Trump tweeted that Brees should not have changed his stance.
Brees, following up on his pledge to be an ally for the black community in the fight for racial equality and social justice, engineered one of his greatest comebacks on his Instagram and Twitter accounts addressed, “To President Trump.”
“Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been,” Brees wrote on Instagram. “We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.
“We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments this week. We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality, and judicial & prison reform. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history! If not now, then when?
“We as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities. We must acknowledge the problems, identify the solutions, and then put this into action. The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.”
Brees’ message was in response to a Trump tweet earlier in the day, saying he “should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag.”
“OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high,” Trump tweeted. “We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag - NO KNEELING!”
Brees’ response to Trump supported what the star quarteback reportedly told his teammates in an emotional team meeting on Thursday about being more understanding and supportive of a cause that was important to them.
Several Saints players rallied behind their teammate following his response to Trump.
Said linebacker DeMario Davis via Twitter: “A big part of leadership is admitting when you are wrong, and correcting your mistake. A model that All of America can follow, admit the wrong done to the black community, fix the issues and WE ALL move forward together. Let’s all stand together now and find solutions.”
Said defensive end Cameron Jordan on Twitter: My teammate dropped a bar... paraphrasing @demario__davis, ‘apology is a form of true leadership... that’s taking ownership.’ Only through open dialogue & open hearts can we expand our comprehension and only in courage can we create positive change!”
Brees’ return to glory came days after he opened old wounds and potentially fractured the Saints locker room when he responded to questions on Yahoo! Finance about the silent protests during the national anthem -- an issue that has returned to the national spotlight amid the racial unrest in the wake of the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag,” Brees said when asked what he would do if players started kneeing again to protest Floyd’s death and others due to police brutality and racism.
The answer was tone-deaf and showed a lack of empathy for an issue that is important to black people across the nation, most notably his black teammates.
Brees’ comment drew harsh rebuke from NFL and NBA players alike but none more heated and pointed than one from Saints Malcolm Jenkins, who said he was hurt by the comments and called them self-centered.
“Our communities are under siege, and we need help,” Jenkins said in one of several videos he posted on Instagram. “And what you’re telling us is don’t ask for help that way. Ask for it a different way. I can’t listen to it when you ask that way. We’re done asking, Drew. And people who share your sentiments, who express those and push them throughout the world, the airwaves, are the problem.
“And it’s unfortunate because I considered you a friend. I looked up to you. You’re somebody who I had a great deal of respect for. But sometimes you should shut the f--- up.”
Brees offered two public apologies as well as one with his teammates. He said he wanted to be a leader and ally for the black community in this movement.
“Step-by-step you will see my heart for exactly what it is and the way everyone around me sees it,” Brees tweeted on Thursday. “I’m sorry it has taken this long to act and to participate in a meaningful way but I am your ally in this fight.”
Jenkins responded in kind after his answer to Trump Friday night.
“Drew, as much as your comments hurt me and many other people, I appreciate you for listening, because being heard is a big part of it,” Jenkins said on Instagram.
This story was originally published June 6, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
