Drew Brees Punished for Failure to Conform

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.

“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.

I NEVER thought I would be writing these words, but one of the few people who I think may have apologized a little at first but TOOK IT BACK and went full steam ahead was...Kanye West.

He got uppity and was shot down, but after backing off a little, he said “screw this” and went 100 percent against the grain.

God’s miracles never cease to amaze me.

If you don’t say something. You’re wrong. If you say something, you say the wrong thing. Guess that makes me a racis’ then. Paint all LEO with the broad brush, I’ll paint looters and protestors with a broad brush.

There will be a Second Civil War, because that’s what The Left wants. The Left will not tolerate dissent, much less disobedience. The Left wants all others to unconditionally surrender. We will not surrender to them and so we will have to fight. It’s sad, but nonetheless true.

He was coerced into an apology, and that’s exactly what they do when there is non-conforming thought. Think of George Orwell’s 1984, and I’m not joking about this at all. The goal at first, is to get you to at least say the ‘correct’ thing, even if they have to coerce or torture you into it. Over time, they hope to brainwash you to the point where you not only say it, but you actually believe it.

He should not have caved. What he stands for is right and I honestly think he believed what he said. Now, because of pressure from others, he’s bent his beliefs and I find that extremely sad. I think Brees is one of the good guys and if the people of NO are stupid enough to think otherwise, that’s on them. I just hope he repairs his internal damage and let’s the public remain ignorant as to what’s really going on in this country.

Yesterday Sidney Crosby issued a statement on the current state of affairs. This was after A week of being harangued on Twitter to do so. What happened when he did? He statement was immediately blasted as not being quick enough by some and not saying enough by others. Then links were posted by various individuals on where he could go to show his support on a monetary level. You cannot capitulate to this mob. Ever.

-—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. -——

Uh, yes. This is common sense for anyone who isn’t stupid. Not every single way of getting your message across is equal, not every way can persuade those you wish to persuade. That’s why we have “marketing” and “advertising” professionals who get paid to figure these things out. Some strategies work better than others. If you turn people off and anger them your way isn’t working.

This is like saying “I pissed on your father’s grave, and it was a cry for help. But all you did was get mad and you didn’t listen.”

Yeah, no sh*t. Imagine that.

If an investigator coerces a suspect into a false confession, can we all agree the officer would be guilty of wrongdoing? A reasonable person wants to think the Black Lives Matter organization agrees, but their actions suggest otherwise.
Have you seen the YouTube videos of Black Lives Matter members coercing apologies from white men? In both examples, it's fair to say that one side forces their will on the innocent party. Both cases are morally corrupt. And yet one is seen as tragic while the other declared righteous — neither end with justice.
Louder with Crowder

[Apparently he is actually a very weak man. Bow down to your masters Drew, they will want more next time.]

He’s got a one-of-a-kind job where the NFL is the only game in town. How’s he gonna explain to his kids why he’s a paraplegic when his majority black offensive line abandons him and gets him crippled? It’s easy to talk about courage when your employer already agrees with you politically or you can just as easily walk across the street and find employment, probably at a higher salary, with the competition. Note that the second is an option open to accountants and skilled tradesmen, not pro athletes.

Apparently he is actually a very weak man. Bow down to your masters Drew, they will want more next time.

Head Like a Hole - Nine Inch Nails

God money I'll do anything for you.
God money just tell me what you want me to
God money nail me up against the wall.
God money don't want everything he wants it all.

No you can't take it
No you can't take it
No you can't take that away from me
No you can't take it
No you can't take it
No you can't take that away from me

Head like a hole.
Black as your soul.
I'd rather die than give you control.
Head like a hole.
Black as your soul.
I'd rather die than give you control.

Bow down before the one you serve.
You're going to get what you deserve.
Bow down before the one you serve.
You're going to get what you deserve.

I’m a white American of Nordic heritage. My black, Hispanic, and immigrant friends are the only ones who will guffaw with me at the prissypants bedwetters who have taken over what’s left of our culture.

This athlete could have salvaged a bit of dignity by tossing his inflated pigskin around in perfect silence from the get-go. Since he chose to sound off, he should have held his ground until people started speaking up in his defense. He didn’t give them the chance, did he? How does approval become so precious and disapproval so horrific to an adult man?

If your in a position where you cannot speak your convictions, because of offending team mates, upper management, etc.
You have two choices, speak your truth and live with the consequences, or hold your opinion, and keep your mouth shut for your entire public life.

This is true for all personalities. If your an entertainer, keep your opinions to yourself, until you change roles and are no longer an entertainer. Its guaranteed, once you speak out, some will love you and some will hate you, and the bottom line is sales and value in the market. Same for football.

When asked, simply say, I am a football player, I am not in the position to have a political agenda, I cannot afford to have one, and leave it at that.

I have lost count of the numbers of people I no longer support in the entertainment field, as a result of them using their celebrity to further a cause.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.