GETTY Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Back in 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made the decision to sit and kneel for the national anthem to voice his thoughts on racism and civil rights issues in the United States.
In the time since, Kaepernick filed a grievance that was settled by the NFL and was supported by hundreds of professional athletes across the world. New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees is not one of them.
In the quarterback’s first comments since the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd in police custody, his stance on kneeling during the national anthem remains the same that it was in 2017.
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees said. “Let me just tell what I see or what I feel when the national anthem is played and when I look at the flag of the United States.
“I envision my two grandfathers, who fought for this country during world war two, one in the Army and one in the Marine Corps. Both risking their lives to protect our country and to try to make our country and this world a better place. So every time I stand with my hand over my heart looking at that flag and singing the national anthem, that’s what I think about.”
From the perspective of famously outspoken 49ers corner Richard Sherman, Brees is “beyond lost” in terms of the issue.
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Other 49ers’ Show Disappointment through Retweets
49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead brought up the example of how former Seattle Seahawk and Green Beret Nate Boyer recommended kneeling as a way of peaceful protest to Kaepernick.
Boyer voiced his appreciation for Armstead shouting him out.
@arikarmstead @drewbrees @Kaepernick7 Appreciate that brother… not enough people know the whole story, that taking a knee was a product of conversation between two very different people that both want our country to be better.
Shortly after Brees’ comments, San Francisco safety Jason Verrett tweeted out that those who have trouble understanding should maybe go watch classic movies that try to speak on the issue.
Selma Lord Selma, Ruby Bridges, Cornbread Earl n Me………if you ain’t seen these maybe you need too ✊🏾
Fellow safety D.J. Reed also didn’t directly address the comments of Brees’, but did pose a question of what the world could be like.
Meanwhile, linebacker Kwon Alexander retweeted Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu’s words shortly after Brees’ quote went viral.
The real issue is that some don’t have the heart to understand or submit.
49ers defensive lineman Solomon Thomas joined Alexander, as the 24-year-old retweeted what Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and retired receiver Doug Baldwin had to say.
men who fought as well for this country. I asked him question about it and thank him all the time for his commitement. He never found Kap peaceful protest offensive because he and I both know what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong! God bless you. 🙏🏾✊🏾👑
49ers safety Tarvarius Moore retweeted Chiefs corner Charvarius Ward, as well as a clip of boxer Deontay Wilder talking about the issue.
We just want that “Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness” we were promised!! So if we continue to get killed for being black… we gone keep kneeling & keep fighting!!
Sherman’s Recent Comments Before Response
On May 31, Sherman took to Twitter to voice his thoughts on Floyd’s death and ensuing protests that have been taking place across the country.
When will the response be justice? Racism has been around forever and too many excuses have been made for it. If you are sitting by watching it and judging the reaction you are part of the problem with what is going on because you allow yourself to overlook the cause.
Unarmed and Black is not a crime and should not be treated as such. I will not argue or engage in discussion with individuals who cannot understand that basic premise. Basic fairness and justice is all that has been asked for and it has not be given
It’s curious the way I’m treated in public when I have a mask on and when I don’t. When I wear a mask I feel the tension that I have felt since i was a child. I can feel the looks I get of ppl who assume I’m a threat. But when the mask comes off and suddenly I’m not a threat
The 49ers corner is coming off his most productive season since heading to Santa Clara, California, notching 11 passes defended and three interceptions in the regular season as San Francisco totaled a 13-3 record and a trip to Super Bowl LIV. Sherman was selected to second-team All-Pro as well as the Pro Bowl.
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Evan Reier is a sportswriter covering the San Francisco 49ers for Heavy.com and local sports for the Montana Standard in Butte, MT. Follow and reach out to him on Twitter at @evanreier.