Drew Brees directly responded to President Trump’s criticism of the NFL star on Friday – a day after the Saints quarterback apologized for saying that players who knelt during the national anthem were disrespecting the flag.
On Instagram, Brees posted a graphic showing a gray box with the words ‘To President Trump’ written in the middle.
The caption read: ‘Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag.
‘It has never been. We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.
‘We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments this week.
‘We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of 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?
‘We as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities.
‘We must acknowledge the problems, identify the solutions, and then put this into action.
‘The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.’
Earlier on Friday, Trump called out Brees for backing down from his earlier criticism on Wednesday, when the NFL star was quoted as saying that he didn’t agree with protesters who knelt during the national anthem.
Brees apologized on Thursday for comments he made one day earlier that he described as ‘insensitive and completely missed the mark.’
He said on Wednesday that he ‘will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country’ while reiterating his objection to NFL players who kneel during the national anthem.
Brees, who had previously disagreed with the protests started by Colin Kaepernick, repeated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem in an interview with Yahoo Finance on Wednesday.
Numerous black athletes, including NBA star LeBron James, expressed outrage at Brees.
Several of Brees’ New Orleans teammates were among the NFL players who were irate.
The biting backlash that followed prompted the Saints’ star quarterback to issue a several apologies on Thursday, first writing that he ‘missed the mark’ and then promising to ‘do better’ in his self-made video.
In the apology video, Brees also referenced the recent killing of Ahmad Arbery, the black man who was shot to death by a former cop and his son while he was jogging in Georgia.
‘I wish I would have laid out what was on my heart in regards to the George Floyd murder, Ahmaud Arbery, the years and years of social injustice, police brutality and the need for so much reform and change in regards to legislation and so many other things to bring equality to our black communities,’ Brees said.
‘I am sorry and I will do better and I will be part of the solution and I am your ally.’
Trump, though, said on his Twitter account that he doesn’t think Brees needed to issue an apology.
‘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. …
‘We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart.
‘There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!’
Several of Brees’ teammates, including Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, and Michael Thomas, took to social media and praised the quarterback for his apology.
‘A big part of leadership is admitting when you are wrong, and correcting your mistake,’ Davis tweeted.
‘A model that All of America can follow, admit the wrong done to the black community, fix the issues and WE ALL move forward together.
‘Let’s all stand together now and find solutions.’
Jordan responded to Davis, tweeting: ‘Only through open dialogue & open hearts can we expand our comprehension and only in courage can we create positive change!’
Thomas, a wide receiver who catches passes from Brees, tweeted: ‘My QB!’
He added an emoji showing a flexed bicep muscle.
Trump’s comments came hours before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell apologized and said that the league was wrong for not listening to players and their concerns about social justice and racism.
Social injustice has been a major source of tension in the NFL since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling before games during the 2016 season to bring attention to police brutality.