🏈 Drew Brees Is Being Held Accountable

Accountability is one of the most important concepts in football. And that’s a fact that Drew Brees is learning after his recent comments about protests. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: Drew Brees has experienced firsthand just how important accountability is in football after his comments about protesting ... we look at the biggest takeaways now that the NBA’s plan to return is officially official ... and athletes continue to make their voices heard. When it comes to the professional football lexicon, “accountability” is the buzz word that just keeps on buzzing. It sounds like it could be one of those fad terms that might pop up from time to time and then disappear — except it stays, because the thought and idea and principle behind it matter. Perhaps, right now, it is more important than ever. Accountability can look like a lot of things, from a veteran lineman demanding more of a willful rookie in training camp, to a player reminding a teammate of his duties to the group and encouraging him not to make a bad off-field decision. It can look like a coach insisting upon poise and commitment from his charges when the going gets tough. [STORY IMAGE 1] And, as Drew Brees discovered to his presumptive surprise this week, it can look like younger, less experienced, lower-paid, less famous teammates, calling to account a 41-year-old Hall of Fame-bound quarterback who should have known better. In these increasingly remarkable days, a time that simultaneously feels stranger yet more significant than any that most of us have known, everyone is quickly realizing how thinking before you speak is the most basic and necessary of mental qualities. Brees didn’t get the memo. “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees said, [in an interview with Yahoo Finance](. “Is everything right with our country right now? No, it is not. We still have a long way to go. But I think what you do by standing there and showing respect to the flag with your hand over your heart is, it shows unity.” The backlash was immediate. Countless sports figures hit out at Brees’ comments — but the most meaningful reactions of all came from his teammates, those for whom it would have been the path of least resistance to say nothing, yet did so anyway. Emmanuel Sanders, Michael Thomas and Malcolm Jenkins all spoke strongly against Brees’ words. Brees, in trying to explain himself later to ESPN, then referenced how his support for the military had been behind his remarks, which didn’t help his argument. (Jenkins’ Twitter video, featured below, includes strong language.) [STORY IMAGE 2]( Without knowing him personally, there is plenty of evidence that Brees is not a bad guy. His current and former teammates have generally spoken glowingly of him and his leadership, and he has embarked upon a variety of charitable works in the New Orleans area. What he fell victim to was twofold. He felt the same argument he might have used last year, or last month, heck, even last week, would still fly. And, in doing so, he showed he has not been listening to ... everything. “If you can’t get a guy who grew up with blacks in the locker room, from peewee to high school to college to the NFL, to understand the black man’s plight, who will?” said Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed. “What about guys who are not around blacks on a daily basis? “What would make you think at this moment, eight or nine days after George Floyd had lost his life, that you would bring up the military and the flag? Drew, I don’t know what you were thinking, I don’t know what you hope to accomplish, but it failed miserably. Drew thinks that well that’s what (the flag) means to me, a sense of pride, a sense of honor. Well everybody don’t feel like that, Drew, because it hasn’t represented them in the exact same way.” Just as important as accountability in the NFL is timing. Brees’ timing could not have been worse. Now, in all honesty, is not really the moment to be talking about the military. Those who have served America will never cease to be worthy of our gratitude and support, but here is the point — they already have those things, and no one is trying to take it from them. Now is the time to be talking about equality. Because if not now, after hundreds of years without it, then when? [STORY IMAGE 3] The reality that everyone has duties and responsibilities has never been more starkly in focus. We are accountable to ourselves and our families, to those we work and play and socialize with, and to the general population. One of the centrifugal points of this entire discussion is that there have been differing levels upon which different American voices have been heard, for far too long. George Floyd’s voice, even when he was pleading for breath — and life — went unanswered. It is appropriate, then, that those who reap the financial rewards that come with being part of America’s most beloved sport, also shoulder the responsibility associated with having a voice that is heard by millions, no matter what they say. Furthermore, because you have a voice that will be heard, it is even more important that you don’t use it to drown out those who don’t. Stop. Listen. Think. [STORY IMAGE 4] On Thursday, [Brees put out a statement]( one that came across as genuine and heartfelt. It shouldn’t have been necessary, but it struck the right tone. It was praised by several Saints players, including locker room leader Demario Davis. “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,” Brees wrote. “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 not a story with a happy ending, because there aren’t a lot of those at the moment, but at least the timeline of it trended in a positive direction. Brees spoke. He misspoke. His teammates pointed out that what might not have been intended as offensive, was certainly offensive to them. He heard those points, broadened his view, and acted upon it. That’s how accountability is supposed to work — and for Brees, the work is just beginning. It’s not perfect, but it’s something. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here's what others have said... Reggie Bush, Brees' former teammate: “I was frustrated. I was frustrated that he still didn't get it, and that he made it about the flag, because it was never about the flag. From Day 1, when Colin Kaepernick took a knee, a peaceful knee, in peaceful protest, it was always about the injustice and the police brutality that continues to happen, even to this day right now. Me and my wife went out to protest because we wanted to know and see what the temperature was of the people, and the climate, and how they felt, because we wanted to know if they felt the same pain, the same anger, that frustration, that we felt, because I also have a responsibility to raise my sons and daughters in this world, and I'm scared as hell when they get pulled over by a police officer, and I should not be scared of when my kids get pulled over by a police officer. “And so when we went out to these protests, what we saw were people of all colors, all with their fists up. And what that tells me is that everybody gets it. All colors. Everybody in this world gets it. We’ve seen protests all around the world. That’s what social media allows you to do. It allows you to see just how many people are on the same page. The whole entire United States and so many different countries in the world have all been marching and peacefully protesting for this. So how come you don't still get it? “Because I know Drew Brees is a man of high character. I know he’s a man of honor. I know he’s a man of God. I know he’s a leader, and I know his name carries weight. So he knows better. Not, ‘he should know better.’ He knows better. This is the predicament now that we’re in. There are a lot of people who are upset at the comments, and I understand the apology, as well. But this is something now that Drew is going to have to make right.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - What does the NBA’s 22-team restart plan mean for Zion, LeBron, the future of the league, and more? [The Ringer’s staff takes a look]( at the seven biggest takeaways from the NBA’s path forward. - As Amanda Nunes prepares to step back into the Octagon for UFC 250 this weekend, [she tells Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole]( that her biggest challenge isn’t her opponent, Felicia Spencer; it’s her impending motherhood. - The play that launched the last Lakers dynasty was not scripted — because how could it have been? [At Bleacher Report, Shaquille O’Neal relives]( his famous lob from Kobe Bryant two decades later. [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( From the amateur ranks to the biggest names in professional sports, athletes are making their voices heard in these incredibly important times. Kudos to these young men for registering to vote, as well. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] FOX Sports: The Home Game (FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET) NBA guard JJ Redick squares off with our own Cooper Manning in a battle of pop culture knowledge and trivia hosted by Chris Myers. 2020 WWE Royal Rumble (FS1, 8 p.m. ET) Relive Brock Lesnar’s monstrous run (and his fall, courtesy of Drew McIntyre), Edge’s stunning return, and much more from this epic event. MLB Whiparound: Safe At Home (Friday, FS1, 4:30 p.m. ET) Big Hurt, KB, and Eric answer your questions on the new proposed MLB format for 2020 and break down all of the latest news in baseball. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( UFC 250: Amanda Nunes & Cody Garbrandt both to win by KO or TKO: +250 One’s arguably the greatest champion in MMA history. The other’s trying to make his way back to bantamweight glory. But both Nunes (-650) and Garbrandt (-162) are clear favorites in their UFC 250 bouts. So if you’re looking to celebrate a couple of big wins on Saturday, a knockout parlay could be your best bet. A new FOX Sports app and website is coming. [Click here]( to be notified when the reimagined app is available. [WHAT THEY SAID] “When your teammate looks you in the eye and holds you accountable, that's the greatest kind of leadership there is.” — Doug Collins [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2020 FOX Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. 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