How much will Drew Brees' offseason comments affect Saints? QB appears intent on restoring unity - CBS Sports

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Drew Brees has backtracked considerably from his original comments this offseason about NFL players peacefully protesting during the national anthem, going so far as to counter the U.S. president by saying that protests have been about improving the black community rather than disrespecting the American flag. But his new stance didn't come before the New Orleans Saints quarterback riled up countless faces across professional sports, including in his own locker room.

New Orleans had a relatively quiet few months following the 2019 campaign and improved a roster already stocked with Super Bowl-caliber talent, but then came this very public dispute. Is it now fair to say Brees' unusually polarizing offseason will carry into the Saints' 2020 season?

It's probably too early to say, if you ask The Athletic's Jeff Duncan, but there's still no denying the magnitude of the situation.

"I know the team has had a couple of video conference meetings with the players and coaches only and aired out the situation," Duncan told Sean Wagner-McGough on Friday's Pick Six Podcast (subscribe here for a daily dose of NFL goodness). "Sean Payton is very much committed to try and address this thing and make it a healthy situation."

Brees' comments were "very uncharacteristic" for "one of the most politically savvy players in the league," Duncan added. "So for this to hit home for him the way it did, I think it devastated him personally. I'm sure he's going to face this issue head-on to try to mitigate the damage. Because it's not just any player that this happened to. Drew Brees is the unquestioned leader of not only the team but the entire organization. He's the face of the New Orleans Saints."

As far as Brees' on-field future, Duncan believes 2020 will, in fact, be the longtime QB's final season in the NFL. The "mental grind" rather than the physical toll is what's most likely to prompt Brees to hang up the cleats after his age-41 campaign.

That said, if, somehow, Brees decides to keep playing in 2021 and beyond, Duncan thinks it'll still be with the Saints -- 2020 offseason controversy or not.

"If he wants to continue playing, he'll have a place with the New Orleans Saints, there's no doubt about that," Duncan said. "It's just a matter of, does he want to continue playing? ... Will the team move forward without him? I don't think so."

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How much will Drew Brees' offseason comments affect Saints? QB appears intent on restoring unity - CBS Sports
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