Had this exact same thought. NBC does have the luxury of time at the moment. I do wonder if an ESPN talking head will bring it up soonas a jab at a rival network, though.
Unfortunately, apologies mean nothing once something you say is deemed racially or culturally insensitive.
Payton has a big problem on his hands. This will continue to fester and just devolve. Brees has probably never experienced the poop storm he's enduring now and will continue to endure. He's going to lose endorsement deals, maybe his NBC deal, his public image will suffer greatly in New Orleans and Nationally. He's never dealt with something like this. Again, what he said wasn't inconsistent with his views -- it just wasn't the right time to double-down on Patriotism when so many are feeling like their own country wants them dead or forgotten.