Category: Saints on Social Media

Watch: Malcolm Jenkins speaks at Philadelphia protest

New Orleans Saints safety and former Philadelphia Eagles standout Malcolm Jenkins spoke out against police brutality at a peaceful protest.

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New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins spent the last six years playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, and the city still has an important place in his heart. Jenkins returned to Philadelphia for a peaceful protest on Saturday following the death of George Floyd, joining several of his former Eagles teammates in the crowd of demonstraters.

Jenkins was also given an opportunity to speak in front of the Philadelphia African American Museum, in which he continued to use his platform to advocate for police reform and condemn racial inequality:

“To the powers that be, I hope that we have your attention,” Jenkins said in a video captured at the event by FOX 29’s Alex Holley. “On this very day two years ago, I stood in front of my locker, facing a crowd of reporters. And as I peacefully protested, I held a sign that said ‘You aren’t listening.’ And at that time, the country had been willfully ignoring the cries of black communities as it has done for decades and centuries.”

Jenkins is a leading member of the NFL Players Coalition, a group including his new Saints teammate Demario Davis and retired tight end Benjamin Watson. He’s worked to raise awareness of issues in his community before, and played a big role in changing Drew Brees’ perspective on peaceful protests during the quarterback’s uncomfortable time in the spotlight last week.

With strength of character like Jenkins’ in the locker room, the Saints won’t be lacking for leadership once the 2020 season. Hopefully he’ll continue to thrive on and off the field for New Orleans as he’s done for the Eagles.

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Twitter reacts to Drew Brees-President Trump exchange

Saints QB Drew Brees responded to criticism from President Donald Trump on his stance towards peaceful protests during the national anthem.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees took fire this week for his criticism of peaceful protests during the national anthem, but changed his perspective after meeting with friends and teammates who made their intentions clear. Brees followed that up with several public apologies to the people he offended.

However, President Donald Trump went after Brees for the reversed course, to which Brees responded with another lengthy statement on Instagram asking the President to “listen and learn” from protesters rather than oppose them outright. That drew a range of reactions from other Saints players, fans, and media personalities, which we’ve embedded below:

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Drew Brees responds to President Trump: ‘We must stop talking about the flag’

New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees responded to criticism of his stance on protests during the national anthem from President Donald Trump.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees put himself at the center of attention this week with a Yahoo interview in which he criticized peaceful protests against racial inequality during performance of the national anthem before NFL games, and he’s devoted a lot of time to walking those comments back and trying to make amends with the teammates, friends, and fans whom he offended.

Brees issued a lengthy apology on Instagram after he was publicly and privately called out by those close to him, including many current and former Saints players. He later talked it out with them during a pre-scheduled team meeting, having found common ground after handling things in-house.

However, the incident caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who disagreed with Brees’ decision to change his take on the subject. Like Brees initially said, Trump views protests during the anthem as a dishonor to the American flag, writing on Twitter:

Brees later responded in another post on Instagram, explaining to the President that they both missed the point of the original protests during the anthem. The people who used that moment to quietly raise awareness of issues close to them weren’t doing so intending to disrespect the American flag or its military. At this point, Brees said, he and members of the white community must listen to and learn from the lived experiences of others:

View this post on Instagram

To @realdonaldtrump 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.

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on

The President has made a habit of feuding with his political opponents online, so it’s possible this isn’t the last we’ve heard of his thoughts on the Saints quarterback. Keep an eye on this space for further developments.

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Shaquille O’Neal on his experience as a guest at Saints team meeting

Drew Brees apologized for his insensitive comments to his New Orleans Saints teammates during a group meeting with Shaquille O’Neal on hand.

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The New Orleans Saints didn’t plan to hold a team meeting on Drew Brees’ divisive comments this week, but it worked out so that they were able to hash things out internally anyway.

Having scheduled a group conference call two weeks ago with NBA legend and LSU Tigers great Shaquille O’Neal in attendance as a guest speaker, Brees was able to apologize eye-to-eye for his condemning of hypothetical peaceful protests during the national anthem before NFL games later this year.

And while the Saints intend to keep further conversations private within the organization, O’Neal was able to shed light on those discussions in an appearance on TNT.

“I was on the call today when Drew apologized to his teammates, and most of his teammates accepted his apology,” O’Neal said. They said, ‘Drew, we knew your character. We knew you stepped into some stuff that you can’t get out of. But guess what? We want you to do more, more positive things and less talking.’ And they all said, ‘We accept your apology.’”

O’Neal specified that one of the first players to speak up was veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins — someone who has known Brees as a friend and teammate for nearly a decade, and who shared several videos on Instagram reflecting on Brees’ perspective and misinterpretation of the gestures as criticisms of America’s military rather than actions protesting police brutality.

You can find O’Neal’s takeaway in the video embedded below:

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Watch: Michael Thomas coordinates emotional video against racial inequality

Michael Thomas joined his New Orleans Saints teammate Marshon Lattimore and some of the brightest young stars in the NFL for a video asking the league to take a stand against systemic racism, inequality, and police brutality against black men that …

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Michael Thomas joined his New Orleans Saints teammate Marshon Lattimore and some of the brightest young stars in the NFL for a video asking the league to take a stand against systemic racism, inequality, and police brutality against black men that look just like them. And ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Thomas was a key figure in organizing it.

Thomas spoke first in the video by stating, “It’s been 10 days since George Floyd was brutally murdered. What if I was George Floyd?” A list of players including Patrick Mahomes, Ezekiel Elliott, Odell Beckham Jr., and Tyrann Mathieu followed up by asking the same question, highlighting a list of victims killed during arrests or while in police custody.

It’s a passionate tribute towards a situation that has obviously weighed heavily on their minds. Thomas publicly sparred with Saints quarterback Drew Brees after Brees criticized peaceful protests from supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, but later thanked Brees for apologizing and encouraged others to stay focused on creating real change for the better.

See it for yourself:

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Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas respond to Drew Brees’ statements

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara and WR Michael Thomas reacted to Drew Brees’ apology for speaking out against police brutality protests.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees caught heat for his comments on peaceful protests against police brutality from a Wednesday interview, following up with a public apology early Thursday morning.

It’s a start, but stronger actions should be expected from Brees to back up his words. While ESPN’s Diana Russini reports that the Saints plan to keep further dialogue in-house — having used the opportunity of a pre-scheduled Thursday team meeting to talk things out among themselves — Brees’ apology was accepted by teammates like Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan.

Others later chimed in, including two of Brees’ most-prominent weapons on offense: Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. Thomas kept his thoughts on the topic brief, but he’s pleased with where he and his quarterback stand now:

Kamara took a little more time to meditate on the situation. He was one of several Saints players to reach out to Brees privately, and he seemed satisfied with how they both left that conversation:

Still, Kamara later used the spotlight put on him to reflect at length on his experience as a young black man in America. We’ve embedded an excerpt below, but his full thoughts are very much worth your time:

Hopefully the Saints were able to weld their fractured locker room back together after the face of the franchise alienated many of his teammates. It’s early, but signs are positive so far. With thoughtful coworkers like Kamara, Thomas, Davis, and Jordan around him, Brees’ eyes should be opened a little wider to a different perspective.

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Watch: Demario Davis reacts to Drew Brees’ apology on CNN

New Orelans Saints linebacker Demario Davis thanked Drew Brees for admitting he was wrong in an apology for comments on peaceful protests.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees stepped into a minefield during a Wednesday interview with Yahoo Finance, criticizing possible peaceful protests during the national anthem as an affront to the American flag and armed forces. The reaction from his peers, teammates, and fans was fiery enough that Brees issued a follow-up apology on Thursday, which you can read here.

One important leader on the team was quick to thank Brees for the gesture. Linebacker Demario Davis was in the process of sharing an on-air interview with CNN when Brees’ statement went up, and he was grateful to see Brees admit that he was in the wrong. It also earned appreciation from defensive end Cameron Jordan.

Still, there’s a lot of work to be done before Brees can solve the division he created in the Saints locker room and the NFL at large. Much of that can be accomplished during the offseason through conversations with his teammates, but actions will speak louder. Like Brees, Davis has been a leader of the team — so much so that he took over for Brees in delivering pregame speeches while the quarterback was on the mend last year. His influence could do a lot to help everyone find common ground.

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Drew Brees issues apology after public backlash from current, former teammates

Drew Brees apologized to his New Orleans Saints teammates, fans, and community after a controversial Yahoo interview on NFL anthem protests.

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Drew Brees drew fiery reactions for his comments on potential peaceful protests during the national anthem before NFL games, largely from his own teammates. Appearing in an interview with Yahoo’s Daniel Roberts, Brees reiterated the same stance he shared back in 2017 on protests against police brutality, interpreting those actions as disrespecting the American flag and military.

It got ugly after that. Enough so that Marques Colston, the “Quiet Storm” himself, shared two pages of thoughts from his official Twitter account. Malcolm Jenkins posted several videos on Instagram criticizing Brees for being obtuse and missing the point. Former teammates like Lance Moore expressed their disappointment, while Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Cameron Jordan also went after Brees. The team’s most important leader divided the locker room.

It quickly spread beyond the Saints’ corner of Twitter. LeBron James ripped Brees, too, posting a series of statements emphasizing that, “Wrong is wrong!” Wendell Pierce spoke at length about his father’s experience as a veteran who fought systemic racism in New Orleans after World War II.

Some of Brees’ upcoming opponents rallied against him, with Green Bay Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith circling his Week 3 game against Brees and the Saints on his calendar.

So Brees moved quickly on Thursday to clarify where he stands on these issues. He put out a lengthy statement on Instagram (which we’ve embedded below; you can also find it at this link) apologizing for the hurt he caused and the division that he caused. It’s a start, but meaningful actions will do more to mend fences. At least it impressed Demario Davis, who reacted in real time while giving an interview to CNN. See it for yourself:

View this post on Instagram

I would like to apologize to my friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday. In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused. In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country. They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy. This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character. This is where I stand: I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference. I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today. 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. I recognize that I am part of the solution and can be a leader for the black community in this movement. I will never know what it’s like to be a black man or raise black children in America but I will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right. I have ALWAYS been an ally, never an enemy. I am sick about the way my comments were perceived yesterday, but I take full responsibility and accountability. I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening…and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen. For that, I am very sorry and I ask your forgiveness.

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on

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Sean Payton, Saints players raise their voices for social justice

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and many of his players commented on the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and police brutality.

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Nationwide protests erupted in recent days following the death of George Floyd, a black Minnesota resident whose murder in police custody was captured in a viral video. This was the latest incident in a string of killings from around the country, including the death of Breonna Taylor, a Kentucky woman who was shot by Louisville police officers in her home. The marches and sit-ins have drawn violent reactions from local governments in many cities, spurring riots and more instances of police brutality.

It’s something that has resonated with New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and many of his players. As public figures, they’ve used their platforms to comment on the unrest as it’s intensified and helped raise awareness of issues important to them.

Payton shared photographs of Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, a black jogger who was recently murdered on camera in Georgia, from his official Twitter account while asking how many deaths were not captured on video, without witnesses — allowing the perpetrators to go unpunished. He added a reminder that change is possible in 22 weeks on Election Day.

Several of Payton’s players responded to his message with enthusiasm — Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara among them. Thomas also shared photographs from the 2020 protests as well as 1960’s Civil Rights Movement, drawing a connection between America’s struggles in the present and those of its past.

Payton has been critical of President Donald Trump in the past, speaking out against the President’s divisive comments after some Saints players joined pregame protests during the 2017 season. It’s a topic in which he found common ground with Cameron Jordan, who also questioned the President’s decisions in this crisis:

Thomas Morstead, another leader of the Saints locker room, took time to explore ways in which he could help his community while imploring his teammates to do the same.

 

Morstead and Payton each took part in the “Blackout Tuesday” trend, sharing blank, black images to show solidarity with the movement protesting police brutality and racial injustice. Justin Hardee and Drew Brees also joined them:

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on

Demario Davis contributed to a USA Today opinion article and spoke at length with Nola.com’s Luke Johnson. Other Saints players also weighed in, like C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Alex Anzalone:

Longtime Saints running back Mark Ingram called attention to the death of Louisville, Ky. restaurant owner David McAtee, who was killed in the street while protesting Taylor’s murder.

And former Saints tight end Jimmy Graham encouraged his fans and Twitter followers to support local organizations working in social justice initiatives. Graham’s one-time teammate, Benjamin Watson, contextualized the problems facing America today:

Other Saints took a more direct approach. Malcolm Jenkins, a resident of Philadelphia during his six-year Eagles career, marched with protesters in several peaceful demonstrations:

Saints owner Gayle Benson issued a statement decrying Floyd’s death, as well as other victims of policy brutality. She also announced the creation of the Social Justice Leadership Coalition, in which she is committing resources to work in local communities in a partnership with Davis and New Orleans Pelicans players Lonzo Ball and J.J. Reddick:

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Sean Payton saw a lot to like of ‘Florida Tom Brady’ in disastrous golf outing

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton had to laugh at Tom Brady’s poor play in a celebrity golf match with Peyton Manning and Tiger Woods.

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Many viewers turned into Sunday’s high-profile celebrity golf match featuring Peyton Manning (and Tiger Woods) against Tom Brady (with Phil Mickelson) expecting a clash of the titans, with the pros setting the pace for two accomplished amateurs.

Instead, the Manning-Woods duo won the day with a runaway lead, with Mickelson doing his best to carry Brady as he struggled with the elements at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. And of course Manning was quick on the trigger with trash talk as Brady floundered.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton also got in on the ribbing. Watching from home, Payton saw Brady’s slow start as an opportunity to joke about the Florida version of Brady, which moved with far less poise than the established New England model.

Even Brady’s highlights came with a fall from grace. After making the shot of the day on the seventh hole, scoring birdie from maybe 150 yards out, he immediately followed up splitting his pants when retrieving the ball.

Thankfully, one enterprising Saints fan was quick to offer a patch for the six-time Super Bowl winner:

We’ll see soon if Brady’s difficulties adjusting to life in Florida carry over to the football field. But if nothing else, it’s great to see that the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is mortal.

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