Kneeling on the ground during the national anthem is a "disrespect for the flag" of the United States said Wednesday Drew Brees, the NFL star of the New Orleans Saints. A position that earned him many criticisms, in his own team and from LeBron James, in particular.
"I will never agree with anyone who does not respect the flag of the United States of America or our country. When I look at the flag, I imagine my two grandfathers, who fought for this country during the Second World War, "said Brees. The player was questioned by Yahoo about the prospect of seeing this gesture reappear in American football, given the burning context of the death of George Floyd and the racist police violence that plagues his country.
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.”
Full exchange: pic.twitter.com/MpCkFyOMed
In recent days, many athletes have expressed support for former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sparked controversy in 2016 by launching this protest movement. This earned him being called a "motherfucker" by Donald Trump and finding himself without a club at the end of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. In other words, blacklisted.
In the last three years the knee on the ground has disappeared in the NFL. But Floyd's death after a white policeman pressed a knee against his neck for more than eight minutes last week in Minneapolis has rekindled anger.
"Ashamed"
"Is everything all right with our country at the moment?" No, this is not the case. We still have a long way to go. But I think standing up and respecting the flag with your hand on your heart is like showing unity, "said Brees, one of the greatest players in NFL history, record holder for the number of yards covered on the pass.
Words, which LeBron James did not like at all. "WOW MEC !! You still don't understand why Kap knelt down? It has absolutely nothing to do with the lack of respect for the (flag) and our soldiers, ”tweeted the Lakers superstar.
WOW MAN !! 🤦🏾♂️. 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, 2020Receiver Michael Thomas, Brees' Saints teammate, also deplored his "ignorance", adding: "We don't care that you don't agree or that anyone doesn't agree on this subject". Twins Devin and Jason McCourty, who play for the New England Patriots, called Brees' comments "shameful."
"You speak of your grandfathers as if there were no black men who fought alongside them. These men then returned to a country that hated them. Don't try to avoid the problem, ”they tweeted.
Another quarterback star in the league, that of the Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers did not name Brees in his message posted on Instagram, but insisted that "there was NEVER any question of an anthem or a flag. Not at this time. Not now ". "You have to listen with an open heart, educate yourself, and then turn speech and thought into action," he called.
View this post on Instagram
A few years ago we were criticized for locking arms in solidarity before the game. It has NEVER been about an anthem or a flag. Not then. Not now. Listen with an open heart, let's educate ourselves, and then turn word and thought into action. #wakeupamerica #itstimeforchange # loveoverfear❤️ #solidarity #libertyandjusticeforall #all
A post shared by Aaron Rodgers (@ aaronrodgers12) on Jun 3, 2020 at 2:08 pm PDT
Brees' remarks came after the Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's tribute to Kaepernick, saying that society "owes him a lot" for taking a stand against police brutality and racial injustice.
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