Drew Brees apologized, but he has made his bed. Now he has to sleep in it.
After a night of reflection, after being subjected to widespread shame and ridicule for making insensitive comments amid the ongoing civil unrest in our country and the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has apologized.
Let’s be clear here: Brees remains steadfast in his defense of the American flag and will never agree with anyone who disrespects “Old Glory,’‘ for example, those NFL players who have knelt in protest during the playing of the National Anthem.
No, he’ll likely never change his opinion when it comes to that.
But, according to his Instagram post Thursday, ol’ No. 9 does regret comments he made to Yahoo Finance on Wednesday that may have offended “friends, teammates, New Orleans, the black community, the NFL community and anyone else I may have hurt.”
I guess “anyone else” could include Saints/Pelicans owner Gayle Marie Benson, Saints coach Sean Payton, Who Dat Nation and NBC Sports — Brees’ likely next stop at the conclusion of a Hall of Fame career.
Look, I am not going to defend Drew Brees or try to get inside his head. Nor will I condemn him for “missing the mark’‘ on this hot button issue — his words not mine — and quibble with his politics. He made his bed, now he has to sleep in it.
Is Brees a racist? I’ll let others be the judge. Like many of us when it comes to issues of race, we hear but we don’t always listen. Know that Brees appeared to say all the right things in his public apology. He expressed sorrow and asked for forgiveness. He posted social media support for Black Lives Matter on Blackout Tuesday and says he stands with his teammates fighting for racial equality and justice.
He is an ally not an enemy of people of color. He wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Also know that a number of Brees’ teammates and other sports personalities (black and white) have taken him to task publicly, the list too long to mention in this space but most notably wide receiver Michael Thomas and safety Malcolm Jenkins.
Like many, I was shocked to read Brees’ comments made to Yahoo Finance, especially at this moment in time, with our country reeling from racial unrest, a deadly pandemic and political instability.
In short, he came across brazenly tone deaf.
Brees usually chooses his words carefully and seldom offers up “ready, fire, aim” responses in a public setting or media gathering. He is careful to protect his public image and seldom misunderstood where he stands on issues. He understands his weighty role as the face of the Saints franchise and indisputable team spokesman. At age 41 and in light of his vast football accomplishments, he is viewed as an elder statesman, a man of the people who preaches team, unity and solidarity.
Not hatred and divisiveness and the center of controversy.
Timing is everything in life.
Drew Brees picked a bad time to stand up and speak his mind. He unwittingly became the story and shifted focus away from the real story. He needed to hush up and take a knee in peaceful protest against systemic racial injustice if he really wants to be part of the solution.
His silence would have been deafening.
Brian Allee-Walsh, a longtime Saints reporter based in New Orleans, can be reached at sports@sunherald.com.