Jets safety Jamal Adams called out New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Wednesday afternoon.
In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees said that he remains in opposition to players kneeling during the national anthem in order to protest racial and social injustices across the United States. Those words prompted criticism from Adams and numerous other players across the NFL.
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country, Brees said. “Let me just tell you what I feel when the national anthem is played and when I look at the flag of the United States. I envision my two grandfathers, who fought for this country during World War II, one in the Army and one in the Marine corps, both risking their lives to protect our country and to try to make our country and this world a better place.”
Adams took to Twitter to voice his displeasure with Brees’ stance, as did San Francisco 49ers quarterback Richard Sherman, who said Brees is “beyond lost.”
Dammit Drew…
— Jamal Adams (@Prez) June 3, 2020
He’s beyond lost. Guarantee you there were black men fighting along side your grandfather but this doesn’t seem to be about that. That uncomfortable conversation you are trying to avoid by injecting military into a conversation about brutality and equality is part of the problem https://t.co/ON81UsOWPw pic.twitter.com/HH3EVTIH8p
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) June 3, 2020
Brees’ own teammates have also been critical of his comments. Brees’ favorite target, star wide receiver Michael Thomas, and running back Alvin Kamara, have both spoken out. Safety Malcolm Jenkins ripped Brees, saying he should “shut the f–k up.”
NBA star LeBron James also made his voice heard on social media with his response to Brees’ opposition of national anthem kneeling protests.
Brees’ comments come in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin, whose third-degree murder charge was upgraded to second-degree murder on Wednesday. The other three officers involved in the arrest that lead to Floyd’s death are also facing charges, according to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Floyd’s killing has prompted protests across the United States calling for an end to police brutality against black people and minorities. It has also brought the kneeling protests started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick back to the forefront of conversation in the NFL with the 2020 season approaching.