technical details
  1. is_video => false
  2. alias => "northwest\/\/oregon-ducks\/drew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee"
  3. nid => "889661"
  4. title => "Drew Brees called out by Oregon Ducks for opinion on taking a knee"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>Drew Brees became a trending topic on Twitter Wednesday afternoon after saying he would disapprove of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem this upcoming season:&nbsp;\u201cI will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The&nbsp;New Orleans Saints quarterback explained when he hears the anthem he thinks of his grandfathers that fought in the military and taking a knee during the song would disrespect the flag.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Highlight: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/readDanwrite?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@readdanwrite<\/a> asks <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drewbrees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@drewbrees<\/a> what the star NFL quarterback thinks about &quot;players kneeling again when the NFL season starts.&quot;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drewbrees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@drewbrees<\/a>: \u201cI will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.\u201d<br><br>Full exchange: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MpCkFyOMed\">pic.twitter.com\/MpCkFyOMed<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YahooFinance\/status\/1268206174073126915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Many online found the comments insensitive or ill-informed&nbsp;given the nationwide outcry against systemic racial injustice in this country in response to police brutality, and more specifically the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police Custody last month.<\/p>\n<p>Some protests have transitioned into rioting or looting, which has some calling for only peaceful protesting.<\/p>\n<p>Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking&nbsp;a knee during the national anthem to peacefully protest police brutality in 2016. Following that season and becoming an unrestricted free-agent, he has not been signed by any NFL franchise.&nbsp;He&nbsp;reached a settlement with the NFL to set aside his lawsuit for collusion to keep him out of the league in February 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Current-San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman tweeted that Brees is&nbsp;\"beyond lost.\"<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He\u2019s beyond lost. Guarantee you there were black men fighting along side your grandfather but this doesn\u2019t seem to be about that. That uncomfortable conversation you are trying to avoid by injecting military into a conversation about brutality and equality is part of the problem <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ON81UsOWPw\">https:\/\/t.co\/ON81UsOWPw<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HH3EVTIH8p\">pic.twitter.com\/HH3EVTIH8p<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RSherman_25\/status\/1268261692363816960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Among those criticizing Brees were&nbsp;multiple players on the Oregon Ducks football team, which itself has been outspoken in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-ducks-hc-mario-cristobal-attends-black-lives-matter-rally-eugene\">Coach Cristobal even attending a rally in Eugene, Oregon.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-football-cfb-coaches-call-change-amid-death-george-floyd\">[RELATED]:&nbsp;Oregon football, CFB coaches call for change amid death of George Floyd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Saints fan Thomas Graham. Jr said he \"lost mad respect\" for Brees while Johnny Johnson III called him a clown.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">And if you know me you know I\u2019m the biggest saints fan out<\/p>&mdash; Thomas Graham Jr. (@_TG4__) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_TG4__\/status\/1268272554629709829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Straight \ud83e\udd21 foreal<\/p>&mdash; JOHNNY JOHNSON III (@johnnny_yamms) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/johnnny_yamms\/status\/1268277170910031872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Additionally, senior defensive tackle Jordon Scott retweeted the following tweets condemning Brees' comments, including one from Tennesse Titans wide receiver AJ Brown.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">DREW BREES PLAYS FOR NEW ORLEANS BUT STILL DONT SEE WHY BLACK PPL FIGHT FOR EQUALITY..<\/p>&mdash; solecito (@isaiahrashad) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/isaiahrashad\/status\/1268215184377573379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If you don\u2019t speak up about racism, then you\u2019re apart of the problem. This man said the flag ... trash<\/p>&mdash; AJ Brown (@Brown1arthur) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Brown1arthur\/status\/1268245005556219904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Former Ducks safety also spoke out against Brees.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If you think kneeling divided a locker room. Wait to you see how Brees\u2019 comment effects the Saints locker room. Sheesh! What a lack of empathy for your fellow teammates and so called \u201cbrothers\u201d. He really practiced that too. Smh<\/p>&mdash; T.J. Ward (@BossWard43) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BossWard43\/status\/1268295405722152960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Former Oregon basketball player Chris Boucher was also disappointed in Brees' comments.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Wth Drew Brees Come on man<\/p>&mdash; Chris Boucher (@chrisboucher) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chrisboucher\/status\/1268284422211596288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>He wasn't the only NBA player to do so. Lakers star&nbsp;LeBron James also chimed in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WOW MAN!! \ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffe\u200d\u2642\ufe0f. Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn\u2019t! You literally still don\u2019t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee?? Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free. My father-in-law was one of those <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pvUWPmh4s8\">https:\/\/t.co\/pvUWPmh4s8<\/a><\/p>&mdash; LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KingJames\/status\/1268268213013327872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<p>Even Brees' own teammates tweeted their disapproval of his comments including Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Alvin Kamara.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He don\u2019t know no better.<\/p>&mdash; Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cantguardmike\/status\/1268220772046307333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We don\u2019t care if you don\u2019t agree and whoever else how about that.<\/p>&mdash; Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cantguardmike\/status\/1268224561008574465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83e\udd22 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CIjXrlOIvp\">https:\/\/t.co\/CIjXrlOIvp<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cantguardmike\/status\/1268240391561773057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Smh.. Ignorant<\/p>&mdash; Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESanders_10\/status\/1268257579269894149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\">oop...<\/p>&mdash; Alvin Kamara (@A_kamara6) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/A_kamara6\/status\/1268270317740470278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n \n"
  7. author => "Dylan Mickanen"
  8. mps => {"author":"Dylan Mickanen","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1591215900"
  10. created => "1591217129"
  11. changed => "1591234791"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USA Today Images"
  14. tags_hide => null
  15. tags => [{"tid":"2651","name":"Oregon Ducks","url":"tags\/oregon-ducks"}]
  16. section => "Oregon Ducks"
  17. team => "Oregon Ducks"
  18. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  19. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/northwest\/2020\/06\/03\/usatsi_13827964_1.jpg","alt":"usatsi_13827964.jpg","title":"Drew Brees called out by Oregon Ducks for opinion on taking a knee"}
  20. sponsor => ""
  21. region => "northwest"
  22. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=318214485357680&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fnorthwest%2Foregon-ducks%2Fdrew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee&display=popup"
  23. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Drew%20Brees%20called%20out%20by%20Oregon%20Ducks%20for%20opinion%20on%20taking%20a%20knee&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fnorthwest%2Foregon-ducks%2Fdrew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fnorthwest%2Foregon-ducks%2Fdrew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee"
  24. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Drew%20Brees%20called%20out%20by%20Oregon%20Ducks%20for%20opinion%20on%20taking%20a%20knee&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fnorthwest%2Foregon-ducks%2Fdrew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee"
  25. type => "article"
  26. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/drew-brees-called-out-oregon-ducks-opinion-taking-knee.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/northwest\/2020\/06\/03\/usatsi_13827964_1.jpg"]}
  27. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2020\/06\/03\/usatsi_13827964_1.jpg","alt":"usatsi_13827964.jpg","title":"Drew Brees called out by Oregon Ducks for opinion on taking a knee"}
  28. article_type => "article"
Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks

Drew Brees became a trending topic on Twitter Wednesday afternoon after saying he would disapprove of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem this upcoming season: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”

The New Orleans Saints quarterback explained when he hears the anthem he thinks of his grandfathers that fought in the military and taking a knee during the song would disrespect the flag. 

Many online found the comments insensitive or ill-informed given the nationwide outcry against systemic racial injustice in this country in response to police brutality, and more specifically the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police Custody last month.

Some protests have transitioned into rioting or looting, which has some calling for only peaceful protesting.

Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during the national anthem to peacefully protest police brutality in 2016. Following that season and becoming an unrestricted free-agent, he has not been signed by any NFL franchise. He reached a settlement with the NFL to set aside his lawsuit for collusion to keep him out of the league in February 2019.

Current-San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman tweeted that Brees is "beyond lost."

Among those criticizing Brees were multiple players on the Oregon Ducks football team, which itself has been outspoken in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement with Coach Cristobal even attending a rally in Eugene, Oregon.

 

[RELATED]: Oregon football, CFB coaches call for change amid death of George Floyd

Saints fan Thomas Graham. Jr said he "lost mad respect" for Brees while Johnny Johnson III called him a clown. 

Additionally, senior defensive tackle Jordon Scott retweeted the following tweets condemning Brees' comments, including one from Tennesse Titans wide receiver AJ Brown.

Former Ducks safety also spoke out against Brees.

Former Oregon basketball player Chris Boucher was also disappointed in Brees' comments.

He wasn't the only NBA player to do so. Lakers star LeBron James also chimed in. 

Even Brees' own teammates tweeted their disapproval of his comments including Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Alvin Kamara.