It has been quite the week for Drew Brees after the New Orleans Saints quarterback received criticism for speaking out against protests conducted during the anthem . Brees later apologized (twice) and President Donald Trump took to Twitter to inform Brees he should have stood by his original comments.
Hours later, Brees posted a pointed message to Trump on both Instagram and Twitter. Brees backtracked from his original comments noting “we can not use the flag to show people away or distract them from the important issues” implying that the president was a part of the matter instead of the answer .
“Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders within the black community, I realize this is often not a problem about the American flag ,” Brees explained. “It has never been. we will not use the flag to show people away or distract them from the important issues that face our black communities.
We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments in the week . We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the important problems with 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?”
Trump Told Brees He ‘Should Not Have Taken Back His Original Stance’
I am a big fan of Drew Brees. I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks, but 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…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
This is not the primary time Trump has called out NFL players for anthem protests. Back in 2017, Trump mentioned players who knelt during the anthem as a “son of a b**ch.” Trump complimented Brees before calling out the Saints quarterback noting he “should not have taken back his original stance.”
“I am an enormous fan of Drew Brees,” Trump tweeted. “I think he’s truly one among the best quarterbacks, but he shouldn’t have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American flag . American flag is to be revered, cherished, and flown high. …We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other belongings you can protest, but not our Great American flag – NO KNEELING!”
Brees Encouraged Trump to ‘Listen & Learn’ From the Black Community
Brees posted an easy background with the text “To President Trump” for an Instagram photo. Brees encouraged the president to “listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities.”
“We as a white community got to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities,” Brees continued. “We must acknowledge the issues , identify the solutions, then put this into action. The black community cannot roll in the hay alone. this may require all folks .”
Brees Received Public Criticism From Several of His Teammates
MY QB 💪🏾 https://t.co/TOSprTpFHr
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 6, 2020
After his initial comments, Brees was criticized by several of his Saints teammates including Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan and Malcolm Jenkins. Brees later apologized through an Instagram post and followed it up hours later with a video message once more emphasizing his regret.
Brees addressed the team during a recent Saints virtual meeting. Thomas quickly retweeted Brees’ comments to Trump and appeared pleased with the quarterback making pointed remarks to the president.
“Super Bowl or Bust i’d need to sign off ,” Thomas responded on Twitter after Brees’ comments to Trump.
