New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees received backlash from the public when he reiterated his long-held opposition to anyone kneeling during the national anthem. He also stated that he would never approve of anyone disrespecting the flag. His statements have shaped him to be a symbol of white privilege, which was ill-timed especially in a society currently active in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I’ll always stand for the flag because of what it means to me and to honor all those who have sacrificed, who have served and died for our country, and all those who have struggled to move this country forward,” Drew Brees said Saturday in a conference call with media to discuss the onset of training camp.

“I acknowledge and respect anyone who chooses to kneel or any other form of peaceful protest to bring attention to social injustice and system racism that so many have endured and continue to endure in our country,” Drew Brees continued, adding that he “always will support and advocate for Black and brown communities in the fight for social justice.”

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He vowed to be better as he witnessed the powerful impact of his comments on the communities involved. Brees also settled his differences with teammates Malcolm Jenkins and Emmanuel Sanders who were primarily upset with his comments regarding the matter. The Saints teammates are all looking to put the past behind them and work towards a common goal of winning a Super Bowl championship.

The 41-year-old Brees, who is the NFL's all-time leader in yards passing, completions and touchdowns, is entering his 20th NFL season and 15th with the New Orleans Saints. After concluding the 2019 season with an impressive 13-3 record, he will continue to lead the team's dominant form heading into the 2020 football proceedings.