'Look in to my eyes': Drew Brees issues ANOTHER apology for saying kneeling in protest during the anthem is 'disrespectful' to the military as several of his black teammates forgive him
- Drew Brees has issued another apology amid backlash from fans and teammates over his disapproval of NFL players kneeling in protest during the anthem
- When Brees expressed his position on the anthem three years ago, he was one of many voices in a crowded conversation about players protesting racism
- In the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, Brees repeated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem in an interview with Yahoo Finance
- Brees's comments were blasted by LeBron James and several other famous athletes, not to mention members of the New Orleans Saints
- Brees has since issued two apologies on social media. In a self-recorded video he says 'I just want you to see in my eyes how sorry I am for the comments'
- The 41-year-old Brees has since been forgiven by several black teammates
- Saints receiver Michael Thomas tweeted: 'He apologized & I accept it because that's what we are taught to do as Christians. Now back to the movement!'
Drew Brees has issued another apology amid backlash from fans and teammates over his disapproval of NFL players kneeling in protest during the national anthem, this time posting a self-recorded video on Instagram to convey his sincerity on the matter.
'I know there's not much that I can say that would make things any better right now,' the New Orleans Saints star said on Instagram. 'But, I just want you to see in my eyes how sorry I am for the comments that I made yesterday.
'I know that it hurt many people, especially friends, teammates, former teammates, loved ones, people that I care and respect deeply,' he continued. 'That was never my intention.'
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Drew Brees posted a video on Instagram to apologize again for his comments about protests
New Orleans Saints players kneel before the National Anthem before a game against the New York Jets in New Orleans on December 17, 2017. Varying numbers of NFL players have been kneeling during the anthem to protest inequality and police brutality against minorities since then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began doing so in 2016. The protests were considered controversial, and many still object to demonstrating during the anthem. However, in the wake of George Floyd's killing and the deaths of other African Americans at the hands of police, American athletes are doing their part to promote justice and equality
In the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, Brees repeated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem in an interview with Yahoo Finance on Wednesday.
And the biting backlash that followed prompted the Saints' star quarterback to issue a several apologies on Thursday, first writing that he 'missed the mark' and then promising to 'do better' in his self-made video.
In the apology video, Brees also referenced the recent killing of Ahmad Arbery, the black man who was shot to death by a former cop and his son while he was jogging in Georgia.
'I wish I would have laid out what was on my heart in regards to the George Floyd murder, Ahmaud Arbery, the years and years of social injustice, police brutality and the need for so much reform and change in regards to legislation and so many other things to bring equality to our black communities,' Brees said.
'I am sorry and I will do better and I will be part of the solution and I am your ally.'
When Brees expressed his position on the anthem three years ago, he was one of many voices in a crowded conversation about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players raising awareness about racist police brutality by refusing to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner.
But when he repeated it Wednesday, pointing to his World War II veteran grandfathers to explain his objection, the Saints quarterback learned in humbling fashion how times have changed.
Michael Thomas, Drew Brees's favorite target, has since accepted his quarterback's apology
Brees did not run away from criticism in his apology on Instagram: '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'
Brees's comments were blasted by LeBron James and several other famous athletes, not to mention members of the New Orleans Saints — most notably record-setting wide receiver Michael Thomas, Brees's favorite target, and veteran safety Malcolm Thomas, who told Brees to 'shut the f*** up' in his own social media video.
Some Saints fans were seen burning his replica jersey, while other demonstrators in New Orleans could be heard chanting 'f*** Drew Brees.'
Thomas, linebacker Demario Davis, and some other Saints players have since accepted Brees's apology.
'One of my brothers made a public statement yesterday that I disagreed with,' Thomas wrote on Twitter. 'He apologized & I accept it because that's what we are taught to do as Christians. Now back to the movement! #GeorgeFloyd.'
Demario Davis (right) and Michael Thomas (left) have forgiven Brees for his comments
At least one person has burned a Drew Brees jersey in response to his statement to Yahoo
Last year, Brees took heat for recording a public service announcement promoting 'Bring Your Bible to School Day' for the group Focus on the Family, which has actively campaigned against gay rights. Brees said he never meant to associate himself with anti-gay messaging and took issue with anyone who accused him of doing so. He also stood by his message in the video.
Although NFL player protests were waning in 2019, three years after Kaepernick began the peaceful demonstrations as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, many expect to see more kneeling in the wake of Floyd and Arbery's killings.
In 2017 many teams opted for anthem compromises that did not involve kneeling, even as they sought to carry forward former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest of the same social issues that now surround Floyd's killing. Many teams opted to remain standing with locked arms, reminiscent of civil rights protests. The Saints, Brees included, chose to kneel moments before the anthem and then stand as it began.
Demonstrators in New Orleans chanted 'f*** Drew Brees' after he knocked the NFL's protests
Despite taking part in that demonstration in 2017, Brees had maintained his objection to players kneeling during the anthem because he found it 'disrespectful' to the military, as he told Yahoo Finance.
Despite his perceived missteps, Brees has been one of the most respected players in the NFL for reasons beyond his record-setting play on the field.
He has cultivated a reputation as a pious family man. He has dedicated untold hours and about $35 million to charitable contributions along the Gulf Coast since joining the Saints 2006, when he became a leading advocate for New Orleans´ recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Brees pictured alongside Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Kaepernick has been out of the NFL since March of 2017, leading to accusations that NFL owners were colluding to blackball him from the league in retaliation for the controversial protests
Recently, he donated $5 million to coronavirus relief efforts in Louisiana.
'It takes somebody of character to acknowledge that they're wrong and they messed up in a way,' said Carolina Panthers tight end Chris Manhertz, a former Brees teammate in New Orleans. 'Everybody has their own perspective and I can't take that away from him, but it's just a matter of acknowledging what is going on and being empathetic. Things like that go a long way in terms of understanding things that you may not have been exposed to or experienced.'
That doesn't mean Brees still doesn't have more work to do to back up his empathetic shift in tone.
'It's not just saying we want to change,' Davis said on CBS Sports Radio. 'It's the actions that's actually going to allow us to change.'
In 2017 many teams opted for anthem compromises that did not involve kneeling, even as they sought to carry forward former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest of the same social issues that now surround Floyd's killing. Many teams opted to remain standing with locked arms, reminiscent of civil rights protests. The Saints, Brees included, chose to kneel moments before the anthem and then stand as it began
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