In today’s ultra hot racial climate, Drew Brees statement on taking a knee and his racial insensitivity has made the Allegiant Stadium opener for the Las Vegas Raiders, must see tv.
Highlight: @readdanwrite asks @drewbrees what the star NFL quarterback thinks about "players kneeling again when the NFL season starts."@drewbrees: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.â€
Full exchange: pic.twitter.com/MpCkFyOMed
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) June 3, 2020
Quite frankly this is one of the most tone deaf statements we have seen in a long time. The popular method of discrediting the message of Colin Kaepernick was to accuse him of disrespecting the flag and the National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner, contains an omitted verse which is highly racially charged. The purpose of Kaepernick taking a knee was to peacefully protest without attempting to draw attention to himself.
WOW MAN!! 🤦ðŸ¾â€â™‚ï¸. Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee?? Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of 🇺🇸 and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free. My father-in-law was one of those https://t.co/pvUWPmh4s8
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020
Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless had a poignant conversation, and addressed the comments Brees made.
For Drew Brees not to understand that Colin Kaepernick was never trying to disrespect the flag or the military, although the military had disrespected a lot of black men, goes to show you that the man who can’t see isn’t the blindest, it’s the one that chooses not to see. pic.twitter.com/zxZ0pMQoUw
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) June 4, 2020
Related Articles: Raiders have never stood for prejudice or racism
Raiders: Dissension in the ranks?
In a nutshell, Brees is speaking his mind and his reality. Unfortunately, his reality is in opposition to the struggle of his teammates and people of color. In this particular moment, Brees has created a rift between some of his teammates. Malcolm Jenkins, in a heartfelt expression of feelings advised Brees sometimes he needs to STFU.
"When we step off this field and I take my helmet off I'm a black man walking around America…and your response to me is 'Don't talk about that here. This isn't the place.' Where's the place, Drew?"@MalcolmJenkins had an emotional response to Drew Brees. pic.twitter.com/baQBuiPF0C
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 3, 2020
Brees has been the unquestioned leader of the Saints for the last 14 years. Through Hurricane Katrina, he has been a pillar in the New Orleans landscape. Is it possible that he just completely missed the mark, yes, can he come back from this? Hard to say. Even one of his former players weighed in on Brees’ comments.
— Marques Colston (@MarquesColston) June 3, 2020
People are upset, and at the ripe old age of 41 it’s clear this will be Brees last season in the league. Sean Payton, the New Orleans Saints head coach, has already stated he views Taysom Hill as a franchise quarterback. As a safety blanket the Saints signed veteran quarterback and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jameis Winston.
Usually accurate, Brees completely misses the mark
He’s beyond lost. Guarantee you there were black men fighting along side your grandfather but this doesn’t seem to be about that. That uncomfortable conversation you are trying to avoid by injecting military into a conversation about brutality and equality is part of the problem https://t.co/ON81UsOWPw pic.twitter.com/HH3EVTIH8p
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) June 3, 2020
The tone deafness of his comments, and inability to see the bigger picture past his own reality, is under fire from people everywhere. Athletes across the sporting landscape have brought taken issue with Brees’ statement and are attempting to hold him accountable to what he said.
Raiders: The apology
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… https://t.co/Jg36d0Ad0l
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) June 4, 2020
Brees has committed many charitable acts in the city of New Orleans. He has given to the black community on different occasions. All of his charitable works can not be undone by this single statement no matter how tone deaf. While the apology statement reeks of PR doing damage control, he is being held accountable publicly. He vowed to be better. Yet, didn’t amend his comments.
Greetings from Mullen Island
Brees comments have caused a ripple effect to carry through the league and players have a renewed focus for playing the Saints. In what was already a big game for the freshly minted Las Vegas Raiders, it has now become even bigger for some of the younger guys.
September 21. 📌
— Treyway Mullen (@MullenIsland1) June 3, 2020
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Top Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images