Drew Brees Criticizes Colin Kaepernick for Sitting During National Anthem

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees did not hold back Monday when asked about Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem before his San Francisco 49ers faced the Green Bay Packers in a preseason contest Friday.

According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, “Brees said he felt compelled to speak out” because Kaepernick’s protest had been bothering him “all day long.”

“I wholeheartedly disagree,” Brees said. “Not that he wants to speak out about a very important issue. No, he can speak out about a very important issue. But there’s plenty of other ways that you can do that in a peaceful manner that doesn’t involve being disrespectful to the American flag.”

Triplett noted Brees, a supporter of the United States military, called the flag “sacred.”

Triplett relayed more of Brees’ comments:

I think the important point to make here is that flag symbolizes, represents the freedoms that you have the chance as an American to exercise. So sitting down for that, that is a blatant disrespect of the freedoms that that gives you. Like it’s an oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee shared a zoomed-in look at a picture from Jennifer Lee Chan of NFLFemale.com, who captured Kaepernick sitting on the sideline while his teammates stood during the anthem:

Zoom-in of @jenniferleechan photo during national anthem that shows Colin Kaepernick sitting on the bench. #49ers …

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