Drew Brees apologizes, says it ‘breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused’

Drew Brees apologized, saying he “completely missed the mark” with his comments about disrespecting the flag”

Drew Brees is seeking forgiveness for his words Wednesday that created a furor.

The Saints’ quarterback posted a powerful image along with a lengthy apology Thursday, the day after his comments about

I “completely missed the mark” on current issues in the United States and that it “breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused,” Brees said about his comments on “disrespecting the flag.”

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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

One of his teammates was quick to accept the quarterback’s words.

Linebacker Demario Davis called it a form of true leadership.

“What we had hoped the first time was that Drew would elaborate more on racism and the sentiments of the black community,” Davis said Thursday on CNN. “And he admitted he missed the mark. So for him to come out and say, ‘I missed the mark, I’ve been insensitive, but what I’m gonna start doing is listening and learning from the black community and finding ways that I can help them,’ I think that’s a model for all of America.”