By Bucky Brooks | NFL.com
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees' comments this week about the prospect of players kneeling during the national anthem created a firestorm as so many around the world are seeking change in the wake of George Floyd's death while in the custody of police.
The impact of Brees' remarks stretched far beyond the walls of the Saints' facility, sparking further discussion on topics far more important than football. At the same time, there's no denying that the comments also have the potential to tear apart a team expected to contend for the Lombardi Trophy in 2020.
The damage played out in public, as several of the quarterback's teammates were highly critical of his position in the immediate aftermath. Although No. 9 has since apologized twice for his comments, the lack of empathy he initially exhibited for the plight of some of his teammates violated a sacred code in the locker room that could make it very difficult for this Saints team to come together and reach its potential. While Brees' apologies were a first step -- and were accepted by some teammates who had voiced criticism -- the Saints undoubtedly still have work to do in order to resolve the issue. And they must do this work in a way that helps the team become a more unified unit going forward.
After talking about this development with a few coaches and executives in the NFL, I've come up with three things that need to happen for the Saints to move past the controversial comments from their 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback:
Full Story - NFL.com
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees' comments this week about the prospect of players kneeling during the national anthem created a firestorm as so many around the world are seeking change in the wake of George Floyd's death while in the custody of police.
The impact of Brees' remarks stretched far beyond the walls of the Saints' facility, sparking further discussion on topics far more important than football. At the same time, there's no denying that the comments also have the potential to tear apart a team expected to contend for the Lombardi Trophy in 2020.
The damage played out in public, as several of the quarterback's teammates were highly critical of his position in the immediate aftermath. Although No. 9 has since apologized twice for his comments, the lack of empathy he initially exhibited for the plight of some of his teammates violated a sacred code in the locker room that could make it very difficult for this Saints team to come together and reach its potential. While Brees' apologies were a first step -- and were accepted by some teammates who had voiced criticism -- the Saints undoubtedly still have work to do in order to resolve the issue. And they must do this work in a way that helps the team become a more unified unit going forward.
After talking about this development with a few coaches and executives in the NFL, I've come up with three things that need to happen for the Saints to move past the controversial comments from their 13-time Pro Bowl quarterback:
Full Story - NFL.com
