The most recent athlete to give his take on Kaepernick’s actions is Drew Brees. The Saints Quarterback spoke with ESPN on the matter after he claims he felt compelled to do so, stating it had been “on his mind all day.”
Brees feels that the American Flag is “sacred,” therefore he disagrees with the way Kaepernick decided to take a stand. Brees feels that Kaepernick could have found a “more peaceful way” than sitting to protest.
“I disagree. I wholeheartedly disagree,” Brees said in reference to Kaepernick’s actions. “Not that he wants to speak out about a very important issue. No, he can speak out about a very important issue. But there’s plenty of other ways that you can do that in a peaceful manner that doesn’t involve being disrespectful to the American flag.”
Brees went on to say that Kaepernick’s protest is an “oxymoron,” because the flag represents the 49er Quaterback’s freedom. “The great thing about this country that we have the freedoms that allow you to speak out openly about any issue. So I’m not commenting on the issue itself because any person has the right to speak out on any issue they want. That’s the great thing about being an American,” Brees stated. “But the American flag is what represents those freedoms. It represents the very freedom that Colin Kaepernick gets the opportunity to exercise by speaking out his opinion in a peaceful manner about that issue. … disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.”
Brees bases his comments on his experiences with United States veterans. “When I look at that flag, I think about them too. I think about a lot of things. Like when I stand and listen to the national anthem with my hand over my heart, there is emotions that well up inside of me,” he said. “Like, I could shed a tear every time the national anthem plays if I would allow myself.”
Sources: ESPN
