Posted on 06/04/2020 1:26:03 PM PDT by Kaslin
RUSH: So Drew Brees, the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints — Drew Brees, who up until 24 hours ago was a hero in New Orleans. Drew Brees had done so much for that community. He had donated time, significant amounts of money in the post-Katrina aftermath and recovery of New Orleans. He was a favorite son. I mean, he was beyond reproach, impeccable reputation, impeccable image.
Star quarterback, one of the greatest quarterbacks the history of the game. He took the Saints to Super Bowl win some years ago, but always kept them in contention. He was an exciting player to watch. He spread the ball around. He had a number of wide receivers that were setting NFL records for catches, yards.
He made a lot of people great. He made a lot of people very wealthy because of how good he is. And now? Well, I don’t know. Because when all this recent protesting and looting and rioting began, Drew Brees, for some reason, felt compelled to defend the flag. He said… I’m paraphrasing now.
He said, “When I see the flag, when I hear the national anthem prior to our games — when we’re all standing on the sidelines, I’m looking at this flag, I’m singing along with the anthem — I stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this country and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis.”
And he went on to say that no matter what, he is an going to disrespect the flag and he’s not gonna be tolerant of anybody else who does. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that didn’t go over very well with many of his teammates. It didn’t go over well with very many people throughout the National Football League and the National Basketball Association.
You had all kinds of athletes tweeting that Brees was insensitive. He was selfish. He was just a bad, bad, bad guy. “How can he be so tone-deaf?” You even had an NBA player — I don’t remember who — saying, “You know what? The NFL needs more people like Aaron Rodgers and fewer people in it like Drew Brees.” Drew Brees never did anything to anybody other than make them better.
Somehow, you can’t escape the notion that all of that now is for naught.
“Saints’ Drew Brees Draws Backlash for ‘Disrespecting-the-Flag’ Comment — After earlier sharing a message of unity on social media, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees attracted backlash Wednesday when he reiterated his stance 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 former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 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 right there with them in regard to fighting for racial equality and justice,’ Brees said. ‘I also stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this country, and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis.’
“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 self-centered.’ ‘Our communities are under siege, and we need help,’ Jenkins said… ‘And what you’re telling us is don’t ask for help that way. Ask for it a different way. I can’t listen to it when you ask that way.
“We’re done asking, Drew. And people who share your sentiments, who express those and push them throughout the world, the airwaves, are the problem. ‘And it’s unfortunate because I considered you a friend. I looked up to you. You’re somebody who I had a great deal of respect for. But sometimes you should shut the f— up.'”
In the next story, “Drew Brees Apologizes for His Incentive Comments About His Grandfathers — Drew Brees apologizes for kneeling controversy, said he never intended to hurt anybody’s feelings and that he is not the enemy.” Now, what? Somebody help me out. Is honoring the sacrifice and bravery of your grandfathers, is that now white privilege?
Is it white supremacy? Is it insensitive? Is it missing the boat about what’s going on? Why must there be…? Folks, this is a key pregunta. Why must there only be one opinion on that? Why is it only permissible for there to be one opinion? So now begging for forgiveness is solution. Begging for forgiveness is the fastest route to safety.
Drew Brees has donated millions of dollars to the city of New Orleans. None of that matters today. Isn’t that amazing? None of that matters. None of that’s even remembered. Now, don’t miss understand. I’m not saying Drew Brees made the charitable donations for PR purposes and for insurance purposes to buy goodwill. I don’t think he did.
I think he made the donations ’cause he genuinely cares about the city that he calls home, the city he lives in. But it didn’t count for anything when the question of his character came up. When the question of whether or not he’s a good guy came up, that stuff didn’t seem to matter, ’cause it’s apparent there’s nothing he can do to absolve him of the sin of his DNA.
He was forced to beg for forgiveness. He said, “I stand with the black community for the future against systemic racial injustice and police brutality, and I support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference. I acknowledge that we as Americans, including myself, have not done enough to fight for that equality or to truly understand the struggles and plight of the black community.
“For that, I’m very sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness.” So there are some who say, “Okay. That’s good. That’s good. That’s a good first step. It’s a good start. Way to go, Drew, very good.” But is there going to be now a…? Not a scarlet letter. Is there forever gonna be an asterisk — and, of course, the media will be playing with this.
If the NFL season ever does start, and let’s say the Saints are not doing well, and let’s say that Brees is having trouble completing passes, and here comes the postgame media: “Do you think your receivers are trying hard enough for you, Drew, or are they still mad at you? Are they laying down on you, Drew? It looks like that pass was right there; they just dropped it.
“Are you having trouble on the team? Is the team unified?” Are they ever gonna be able to get past this stuff now? ‘Cause you know that the media will relish those kinds of interview opportunities. If Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are going great — if they’re undefeated after the first four or five weeks and he’s throwing for record numbers of yards and the touchdowns — the media will ask:
“Drew, how were you and your receivers able to put all of this behind you — or have you? Are your receivers doing what they’re doing because they’ve been able to look past your insensitivity and they’re just the epitome of professionals? How do you explain this, Drew?” And then they’ll ask the head coach what the locker room is like. So we’ll, of course, keep a sharp eye.
There’s something happening here in the country, and it’s not unprecedented. I have a piece here that runs in the Federalist. (interruption) No, no, no. I’ve got a lot of emails from people that are mad that he had to apologize, Drew Brees.
Brees will be the first to kneel now.
When are the rasis crackas gonna shut down the NFL and NBA by not giving them their money?
It wasn't $50M -- though of course I hadn't already earned $250M+ -- but I absolutely have sacrificed aspects of my career because I spoke out on a controversial topic. Long and short of it, I was a partner at a large law firm, and spoke out against practices where we funneled work to associates based solely on racial/gender considerations. I said I would refuse to do it because I thought it was not only unethical, but unlawful.
I was shortly thereafter removed from that client's cases, which resulted in a large enough reduction in billings than I eventually decided to leave. I knew ahead of time it would happen, but I wasn't going to play the PC game just for more money.
You seem like just a "I was just following orders -- who am I to object" kind of guy. I hope that's worked out well for you.
Trent may be a big-time libbie, but it’s a great song, nonetheless.
[Just because you apparently lack any sort of moral fiber doesn’t mean everyone else does.
It wasn’t $50M — though of course I hadn’t already earned $250M+ — but I absolutely have sacrificed aspects of my career because I spoke out on a controversial topic. Long and short of it, I was a partner at a large law firm, and spoke out against practices where we funneled work to associates based solely on racial/gender considerations. I said I would refuse to do it because I thought it was not only unethical, but unlawful.
I was shortly thereafter removed from that client’s cases, which resulted in a large enough reduction in billings than I eventually decided to leave. I knew ahead of time it would happen, but I wasn’t going to play the PC game just for more money.]
Last season the Saints did a thing where they kneeled before the Anthem, and then stood for it. After this? Anything less than the white players genuflecting at the 50 yard line and engaging in self-flagellation will not be tolerated.
Note also that you had the option of moving to another firm or hanging out your shingle. Brees doesn’t. For him, it’s the NFL or nothing, if he wants to play pro ball. He would have given up 2 years’ salary *and* the rest of his career, as well as another chance at the Super Bowl. The analogy would be to you giving up a career in law.
The guy is 40, he’s had a good run.
It’s about getting an announcing gig after he’s done playing.
[The guy is 40, he’s had a good run.
It’s about getting an announcing gig after he’s done playing.]
https://www.nfl.com/news/drew-brees-agrees-to-2-year-50m-deal-with-saints-0ap3000001106597
Well, we know who his God is.
If Drew Brees wasn’t 41, and hadn’t already played 19 seasons, I’d have more sympathy. But if you’re not willing to stand up for your beliefs when you’ve already earned multi-generational wealth...when will you?
The analogy would be if me giving up a career in law if I'd already earned hundreds of millions of dollars and was a couple of years away from retirement anyway.
Which I obviously wasn't. And I'm not trying to build myself up here. I think a lot of people make similar choices. Brees just confirmed that he is always going to be for sale no matter how much money he already has earned.
I wonder how he feels about something like this (strong language)?
*Talking about people like Colin Humperdincky, not necessarily Mr. Jenkins.
PING!
Antifa Pong, baby! Bounce those bastards from city to city, suburb to suburb until they drop dead or give up.
*That's sad as hell, given that I'm 53.
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