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Saints quarterback Drew Brees tells Trump he stands by apology over comments about anthem protest – Daily Mail

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 15:19:19 +0000

Drew Brees directly responded to President Trump’s criticism of the NFL star on Friday – a day after the Saints quarterback apologized for saying that players who knelt during the national anthem were disrespecting the flag.

On Instagram, Brees on Friday posted a graphic showing a gray box with the words ‘To President Trump’ written in the middle.

The caption read: ‘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.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (left) told President Trump (right) on social media that he stands by his apology for saying earlier this week that athletes who take a knee during the national anthem as a form of protest were disrespecting the military

On Instagram, Brees on Friday posted a graphic showing a gray box with the words ‘To President Trump’ written in the middle

The caption read: ‘Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag’

‘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.’

Earlier on Friday, Trump called out Brees for backing down from his earlier criticism on Wednesday, when the NFL star was quoted as saying that he didn’t agree with protesters who knelt during the national anthem.

(From left) Brittney Brees, Drew Brees, Melania Trump and Donald Trump pictured at the college football national championship game at the Superdome in New Orleans

President Donald Trump is wading back into the debate over NFL player protests by condemning Drew Brees’s recent apology for calling the peaceful demonstrations ‘disrespectful’ to the military

Brees apologized on Thursday for comments he made one day earlier that he described as ‘insensitive and completely missed the mark.’

He said on Wednesday that he ‘will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country’ while reiterating his objection to NFL players who kneel during the national anthem.

Brees, who had previously disagreed with the protests started by Colin Kaepernick, repeated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem in an interview with Yahoo Finance on Wednesday.

Numerous black athletes, including NBA star LeBron James, expressed outrage at Brees.

Several of Brees’ New Orleans teammates were among the NFL players who were irate.

The biting backlash that followed prompted the Saints’ star quarterback to issue a several apologies on Thursday, first writing that he ‘missed the mark’ and then promising to ‘do better’ in his self-made video.

In the apology video, Brees also referenced the recent killing of Ahmad Arbery, the black man who was shot to death by a former cop and his son while he was jogging in Georgia.

‘I wish I would have laid out what was on my heart in regards to the George Floyd murder, Ahmaud Arbery, the years and years of social injustice, police brutality and the need for so much reform and change in regards to legislation and so many other things to bring equality to our black communities,’ Brees said.

‘I am sorry and I will do better and I will be part of the solution and I am your ally.’

Trump, though, said on his Twitter account that he doesn’t think Brees needed to issue an apology.

Several of Brees’ teammates, including Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, and Michael Thomas, took to social media and praised the quarterback for his apology. ‘A big part of leadership is admitting when you are wrong, and correcting your mistake,’ Davis tweeted

Jordan responded to Davis, tweeting: ‘Only through open dialogue & open hearts can we expand our comprehension and only in courage can we create positive change!’

Thomas, a wide receiver who catches passes from Brees, tweeted: ‘My QB!’ He added an emoji showing a flexed bicep muscle.

‘I am a big fan of Drew Brees. I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks, but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high. …

‘We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart.

‘There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!’

Several of Brees’ teammates, including Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, and Michael Thomas, took to social media and praised the quarterback for his apology.

‘A big part of leadership is admitting when you are wrong, and correcting your mistake,’ Davis tweeted.

‘A model that All of America can follow, admit the wrong done to the black community, fix the issues and WE ALL move forward together.

‘Let’s all stand together now and find solutions.’

Jordan responded to Davis, tweeting: ‘Only through open dialogue & open hearts can we expand our comprehension and only in courage can we create positive change!’

Thomas, a wide receiver who catches passes from Brees, tweeted: ‘My QB!’

He added an emoji showing a flexed bicep muscle.

Trump’s comments came hours before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell apologized and said that the league was wrong for not listening to players and their concerns about social justice and racism.

Social injustice has been a major source of tension in the NFL since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling before games during the 2016 season to bring attention to police brutality.

Drew Brees posted a video on Instagram to apologize again for his comments about protests

Brees did not run away from criticism in his apology on Instagram: ‘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’

Kaepernick hasn’t played in an NFL game since that year.

The NFL’s relationship with black players is under scrutiny in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

A group of players requested the NFL take strong action on Thursday in a video directed at Goodell and other NFL officials.

Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 after white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes in an incident caught on cell phones.

Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Three other officers – Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao – were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting both a second-degree murder and a second-degree manslaughter.

BREES’S ORIGINAL COMMENT TO YAHOO! FINANCE ON PROTESTS

‘I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country. 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 II, 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. And in many cases, that brings me to tears, thinking about all that has been sacrificed. Not just those in the military, but for that matter, those throughout the civil rights movements of the ’60s, and all that has been endured by so many people up until this point. And 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. It shows that we are all in this together, we can all do better and that we are all part of the solution.’

-Drew Brees to Yahoo! Finance on June 3

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Wenger stands by criticism of referees

admin — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 14:14:50 +0000

10:15 AM GMT

Mattias KarenESPN

LONDON — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to back down from his recent criticism of Premier League referees.

Wenger also claimed Eden Hazard should have been booked for a dive in the incident that saw Chelsea awarded a penalty in their 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

The manager has hit out at what he perceives to be falling standards in Premier League refereeing and said he was “shocked” to be charged by the Football Association over an alleged confrontation with Mike Dean following Sunday’s draw at West Brom.

Wenger was incensed by a late penalty decision in that game and then called Chelsea’s penalty at the Emirates “farcical.”

He has been asked by the FA to provide observations about those comments.

But speaking at a news conference ahead of the FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest, he said: “I maintain what I said in the press conference 100 percent, and I have nothing to change in that.

“I’m in England for 21 years, I try to serve this game with honesty and integrity and when I have something to say I will say it. On that front, nothing will change. Never.

“I think it was a yellow card for Hazard, 100 percent. But I have a right to have my opinion and I respect everybody’s opinion.”

Wenger also admitted that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere may have dived in a second-half incident that some pundits felt warranted a second yellow card for the midfielder.

“Yes, maybe he did,” he said. “But why should that change my opinion on the penalty? Nothing to do with it. Every situation is different.”

Wenger said he had not requested a personal FA hearing to plead his case after being charged, having said after the Chelsea game that he would contest it.

However, he did not confirm on Friday whether he would contest the charge or admit it in order to get a reduced touchline ban.

“At the moment, I’m focused on football,” he said. “If you imagine that I’m 21 years in the game, and what I’ve seen and heard in the corridors from people, you can quite understand that I’m surprised and shocked by having been charged.”

The Arsenal manager said he had the right to demand a higher standard of refereeing after having led calls for Premier League officials to become full-time.

“We can talk and talk,” he said. “At the end of the day, we always spend time on talking about things that are not really important in the game.

“What we want is to see big football games, we have big players on the football pitch, and you want them to be refereed by top-quality people.

“And I think I contributed a lot to give referees a great opportunity to be at their best because I had a huge influence on the fact that they became professional.

“I believe I had more of a positive influence on that, and that’s why I can as well be demanding. That’s what I want from them is to be at their top. And I’m quite surprised that that is shocking.”

An FA touchline ban could see Wenger miss both Sunday’s FA Cup game and the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal against Chelsea on Wednesday.

But having been invited to his former Monaco player George Weah’s presidential inauguration in Liberia, he said: “Maybe if I’m suspended I will have time to go.”

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‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

admin — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 20:53:22 +0000

AUSTRALIAN rugby star Karmichael Hunt is reportedly “inconsolable” after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It comes as the former NRL star voluntarily stood himself down from all his rugby commitments with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds, according to his lawyer.

Police allegedly discovered a white powder after searching the 31-year-old Wallabies representative in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

Hunt was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession.

He is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

It’s the second time in three years Hunt has been charged for drug-related offences, having been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in March 2015.

With the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirming it had launched an investigation into the incident, Hunt’s unique three-code footballing career could be over.

Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said his client was devastated.

“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” Mr Magill told Fairfax Media.

“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”

According to the ABC, Magill said Hunt is “devastated and very upset”.

“He is not in a good way emotionally” Mr Magill said.

“The penny is starting to drop and he is just coming to terms with what is in jeopardy.”

Hunt, a former NRL and AFL player who joined the Reds at the end of 2014 shortly before his previous run-in with the law, has rebounded from that low point to establish himself as one of the Super Rugby franchise’s leading players.

Karmichael hunt had only recently re-signed to rugby.

He made his Wallabies debut in June and has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

That contract now appears to be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the ARU investigation.

A second man, 32, who was with Hunt has also been charged with drug-related offences.

The ARU on Saturday released a statement to confirm its investigation will be conducted alongside Queensland Rugby.

“Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,” the statement said.

“Rugby Australia takes all matters relating to the off-field behaviour of its players seriously and has commenced an investigation into the incident in conjunction with the Queensland Rugby Union.”

Originally published as ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

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‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

admin — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:45:48 +0000

AUSTRALIAN rugby star Karmichael Hunt is reportedly “inconsolable” after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It comes as the former NRL star voluntarily stood himself down from all his rugby commitments with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds, according to his lawyer.

Police allegedly discovered a white powder after searching the 31-year-old Wallabies representative in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

Hunt was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession.

He is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

It’s the second time in three years Hunt has been charged for drug-related offences, having been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in March 2015.

With the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirming it had launched an investigation into the incident, Hunt’s unique three-code footballing career could be over.

Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said his client was devastated.

“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” Mr Magill told Fairfax Media.

“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”

According to the ABC, Magill said Hunt is “devastated and very upset”.

“He is not in a good way emotionally” Mr Magill said.

“The penny is starting to drop and he is just coming to terms with what is in jeopardy.”

Karmichael hunt had only recently re-signed to rugby.

He made his Wallabies debut in June and has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

That contract now appears to be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the ARU investigation.

A second man, 32, who was with Hunt has also been charged with drug-related offences.

The ARU on Saturday released a statement to confirm its investigation will be conducted alongside Queensland Rugby.

“Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,” the statement said.

Originally published as ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

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‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

admin — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 14:38:37 +0000

AUSTRALIAN rugby star Karmichael Hunt is reportedly “inconsolable” after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It comes as the former NRL star voluntarily stood himself down from all his rugby commitments with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds, according to his lawyer.

Police allegedly discovered a white powder after searching the 31-year-old Wallabies representative in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

Hunt was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession.

He is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

It’s the second time in three years Hunt has been charged for drug-related offences, having been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in March 2015.

With the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirming it had launched an investigation into the incident, Hunt’s unique three-code footballing career could be over.

Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said his client was devastated.

“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” Mr Magill told Fairfax Media.

“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”

According to the ABC, Magill said Hunt is “devastated and very upset”.

“He is not in a good way emotionally” Mr Magill said.

“The penny is starting to drop and he is just coming to terms with what is in jeopardy.”

Karmichael hunt had only recently re-signed to rugby.

He made his Wallabies debut in June and has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

That contract now appears to be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the ARU investigation.

A second man, 32, who was with Hunt has also been charged with drug-related offences.

The ARU on Saturday released a statement to confirm its investigation will be conducted alongside Queensland Rugby.

“Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,” the statement said.

Originally published as ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

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The post ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down first appeared on Bad Sporters.

‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

admin — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 10:59:03 +0000

AUSTRALIAN rugby star Karmichael Hunt is reportedly “inconsolable” after he was arrested and charged with drug possession in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It comes as the former NRL star voluntarily stood himself down from all his rugby commitments with the Wallabies and Queensland Reds, according to his lawyer.

Police allegedly discovered a white powder after searching the 31-year-old Wallabies representative in a car park in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley at about 12.40am.

Hunt was subsequently charged with two counts of drug possession.

He is set to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 29.

It’s the second time in three years Hunt has been charged for drug-related offences, having been fined $2500 after pleading guilty to four counts of drug possession in March 2015.

With the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) confirming it had launched an investigation into the incident, Hunt’s unique three-code footballing career could be over.

Hunt’s lawyer Adam Magill said his client was devastated.

“He is very upset, as anyone would expect, and pretty much inconsolable,” Mr Magill told Fairfax Media.

“He is sticking with his family. He’s got concerns and his manager is taking care of him.”

According to the ABC, Magill said Hunt is “devastated and very upset”.

“He is not in a good way emotionally” Mr Magill said.

“The penny is starting to drop and he is just coming to terms with what is in jeopardy.”

Karmichael hunt had only recently re-signed to rugby.

He made his Wallabies debut in June and has represented Australia in six Tests, earning a two-year contract extension in November.

That contract now appears to be in jeopardy depending on the outcome of the ARU investigation.

A second man, 32, who was with Hunt has also been charged with drug-related offences.

The ARU on Saturday released a statement to confirm its investigation will be conducted alongside Queensland Rugby.

“Rugby Australia has today been made aware of an incident involving Wallabies and Reds back Karmichael Hunt in Brisbane overnight,” the statement said.

Originally published as ‘Inconsolable’ Hunt stands down

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