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Drew Brees’ Apology – NOT ENOUGH!

Diego Galvis

New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees is facing backlash after an interview with Yahoo Finance that went viral and has shaken the core of many across the nation especially after the tragic death of George Floyd and current protests and riots happening all across America.

During the interview with Yahoo Finance, Drew Brees comments on how he can’t agree with anyone disrespecting the flag of the United States or our country. While I agree with the literacy of the words he utilized, I can’t agree nor can’t even begin to understand his deliverance with the commentary.

FAST FORWARD 24-HOURS LATER

Now, after 24 hours of coming out all over the internet with the commentary he made on that interview, The New Orleans Saints announced having a team meeting after Brees’ comment. A little while after though, Brees comes out with his heart-felt apology:

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

HOW DID I REACT?

Personally, I must say that I found it shocking to hear those exact words come out of Drew Brees. As someone who respects him as a public figure, his talent in football and who has always admired his work, I was quite surprise to hear it. Especially in a time, where America is facing such a divide.

Now, let me be very clear: I too respect our national anthem and also our flag, that goes without question.

If you think about kneeling and its meaning for a quick second, picture yourself when you are sitting at home on a Sunday night with a cold beer in hand watching Football and a player goes down injured, what is one of the very first things you see as a reaction from the players? They kneel, correct?

As my peer on Couch Guy Sports, Jess Donahue mentioned previously in her article, “Let us not forget that it was an ex-Green Beret was the one who suggested that Colin Kaepernick kneel instead of sitting on the bench.”

Drew lacked to answer the question asked and I too agree that he completely missed the mark.

My personal take on his apology is that it is simply not enough. I feel that his apology is heart-felt and genuine but I believe that he should put to use the great platform he has to help raise awareness on the issue that we have faced for far too long.

Drew’s leadership on the football field could be replicated on social media and in many other ways.

In example: helping raise awareness, donating towards education, or maybe using his voice to help voices that have yet to be heard and help those be heard!

OTHERS REACTIONS:

IN CONCLUSION:

The apology is simply not enough.

The damage done by his comments still stand in some hearts across America, including mine as a fan of his.

Forgiveness will eventually come. Although, I hope that aside of using a stock picture showing unity and a long apology issued on Instagram, I would like to see him make a public appearance wether it is thru social media again or thru national television, recognizing his mistake and issuing an apology that is directly from the heart, not from a written statement. Actions speak louder than words, Drew!

~Diego Galvis (@Diego_TheDJ)

 

Diego Galvis

Born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in Boston, MA. Boston-Based DJ VP of Operations at Couch Guy Sports.

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