Drew Brees Gave 'Tearful Apology' to Saints Teammates Following Anthem Protest Comments

Drew Brees was clearly shaken up by the backlash he received for his polarizing comments about NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem. The New Orleans Saints quarterback has since released a string of apologies, including a message directed at President Donald Trump, as he attempts to restore the respect of his teammates and fans.

Well, Brees reportedly took things a step further during New Orleans' team meeting on Thursday. Per team reporter Nick Underhill, the 41-year-old vet was visibly emotional and distraught realizing how much his actions unsettled the Saints locker room. He even delivered a tearful apology that resonated with his teammates.

When Brees addressed the team during Thursday’s meeting his teammates saw him in a very emotional state. They could tell it hurt him to hurt them, which mattered. He had tears in his eyes as he apologized.

His actions since then continue to support what he said on Thursday.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) June 6, 2020

The 13-time Pro Bowler has certainly the weathered the storm he sparked, and there's something to be said for that. His initial attempts to make amends really rang hollow as they suggested he was more sorry for how his comments were perceived than failing to acknowledge the cancer that is racial oppression.

However, Brees proved on Friday night that he's a willing listener and learner when he replied to Trump's tweet with a heartfelt post on Instagram in which he confessed that players kneeling during the Anthem is entirely about protesting racial injustice and has nothing to do with disrespecting the American flag.

View this post on Instagram

To @realdonaldtrump Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been. We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities. We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments this week. We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality, and judicial & prison reform. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history! If not now, then when? We as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities. We must acknowledge the problems, identify the solutions, and then put this into action. The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.

A post shared by Drew Brees (@drewbrees) on Jun 5, 2020 at 7:10pm PDT

The former Super Bowl champ isn't entirely out of the woods, but his recent acts prove that he's willing to do whatever it takes to mend his relationship with his teammates. That's really all Saints fans could ask for.