Jun 3, 2020

  • Mike TriplettESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covered Saints for eight years at New Orleans Times-Picayune
    • Previously covered LSU football, San Francisco 49ers
    • Iowa native and University of Iowa graduate

METAIRIE, La. -- Later on earlier sharing a bulletin of unity on social media, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees attracted backlash Wed when he reiterated his opinion that he will "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America" during an interview with Yahoo Finance.

Brees' comments came when he was asked during the interview to revisit sometime NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's 2022 protest of police brutality against minorities, in which Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before games. Brees' remarks on the flag drew a sharp rebuke on social media across the sports landscape, including from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.

Brees gave a lengthy response to ESPN when asked about the perceived conflict between his statements, including a potential divide in his locker room, where players such as Malcolm Jenkins and Demario Davis are among the leaders of the players' coalition seeking social justice and racial equality.

"I love and respect my teammates, and I stand up right at that place with them in regard to fighting for racial equality and justice," Brees said. "I besides stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this state, and endless other military men and women who do it on a daily ground."

An emotional Jenkins, in a video that has since been deleted from social media, said that he was "hurt" by Brees' comments and that they were "extremely cocky-centered."

"Our communities are under siege, and nosotros demand help," Jenkins said in the deleted video. "And what yous're telling united states is don't ask for aid that style. Ask for it a different way. I can't listen to it when y'all ask that style. We're done request, Drew. And people who share your sentiments, who express those and push them throughout the world, the airwaves, are the trouble.

"And information technology's unfortunate because I considered you a friend. I looked up to yous. Yous're somebody who I had a not bad deal of respect for. But sometimes you lot should shut the f--- up."

Jenkins said the video was fabricated simply prior to Brees' reaching out to him to discuss his indicate of view, simply Jenkins still posted information technology "considering it's of import for anyone who wants to consider themself an ally to know how these words and deportment affect those you want to help."

Jenkins and then deleted the original video and subsequently posted an updated one, saying, "Fifty-fifty though nosotros're teammates, I can't let this slide."

On Twitter, James said that kneeling during the national canticle has "nothing to do with the boldness of [the United States flag] and our soldiers."

Brees was outspoken in 2022 when he said that he supported Kaepernick's desire to speak out against racial injustice but disagreed with Kaepernick's method of protest during the national anthem.

In 2022 in London, Brees and other Saints players took a human knee before the playing of the national canticle and and so stood for the canticle prior to a game confronting the Miami Dolphins. The Saints' decision was a response to President Trump's saying at the time that NFL players who chose not to stand for the anthem should be fired.

Brees has not wavered from his stance of not kneeling during the anthem, though he insisted Wed that his actions should represent what kind of a person he is.

"I believe nosotros should all represent the national anthem and respect our country and all those who sacrificed then much for our freedoms," Brees said via text message. "That includes all those who marched for women's suffrage in the 1920s and all those who marched in the ceremonious rights movements and continue to march for racial equality. All of us ... Anybody ... stand for that flag. Aforementioned way I respect all the citizens of our state ... no affair their race, color, faith.

"And I would ask anyone who has a trouble with what I said to look at the mode I alive my life. Practice I come up across as someone who is not doing my absolute best to make this world a meliorate place, to bring justice and equality to others, and hope & opportunity to those who don't have it? That'south what I meant by deportment speak louder than words. ... My Deportment speak for themselves."

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What Brees' comments on kneeling say about our lodge

Pablo Torre reacts to Drew Brees' comment that he yet opposes players kneeling during the national anthem.

Brees was referencing his social media post from Wed morning, which began with the header, "Words to unite," and talked about the importance of teaching and modeling to children "what information technology is to love all and respect all."

"There is a saying in every locker room I have been in," Brees wrote. "'Don't but talk about it, be nearly information technology.' Acknowledge the problem, and accept the fact that nosotros all have a responsibility to make it better. 'Your actions speak so loudly I can't hear what y'all're maxim.'"

View this post on Instagram

Words to unite.. A mentor of mine one time told me that if you listen closely, the sound of children playing is the aforementioned no affair where you are in the world. The laughing, shouting, screaming, giggling... No matter what language you speak, no matter what your race, color, organized religion... the exact same. At some point we all alter... The reasons... Our environment, experiences, pedagogy...The voices and influences around us. If you are reading this, you are probably i of those whose vocalisation and influence is very powerful in the life of a immature person. So when you inquire what difference you tin can brand in this world... It'southward exactly that. Enhance, teach, but near chiefly model to young people what it is to love all and respect all. There is a saying in every locker room I accept been in... Don't just talk about information technology, be nearly it. Acknowledge the trouble, and have the fact that we all accept a responsibleness to make it better. "Your actions speak and so loudly I tin't hear what y'all're proverb"

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on

Brees and his married woman, Brittany, have been heavily involved in charitable efforts throughout his 19-year NFL career, including a recent donation of $5 million to help Louisiana during the coronavirus pandemic.

Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson released a lengthy statement Mon, decrying police brutality and announcing the cosmos of a Social Justice Leadership Coalition within both organizations involving Davis, Lonzo Brawl and JJ Redick.

Saints coach Sean Payton offered a passionate opinion Tuesday, saying on social media that George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery were "murdered not killed" and calling for alter with the Nov elections.

The Associated Printing contributed to this report.