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Drew Brees refuses to budge on stance about protesting during national anthem

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees stayed true on his stance against players kneeling during the national anthem when the season starts.

Brees told Yahoo Finance on Wednesday he would never agree with the gesture.

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“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country. Let me just tell you what I see or what I feel when the national anthem is played and when I look at the flag of the United States,” the 41-year-old quarterback told the outlet.

Brees likened standing for the national anthem as saluting the military.

“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,” he said.

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“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.”

Brees’ teammate Michael Thomas appeared to react to the quarterback’s comments on Twitter.

Brees had previously made comments about standing during the national anthem during the 2017 season. At the time, he said he didn’t agree with President Trump’s comments about Colin Kaepernick or players who kneel during the anthem but still said players should stand.

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“I will always feel that if you are an American the national anthem is an opportunity for us all to stand up together, to be unified and show respect for our country, and to show respect for what it stands for,” Brees said at the time.

He would also add: “But if the protest becomes that we are going to sit down or kneel and not show respect to the United States of America and everything that it symbolizes, and everything that it stands for, and everything our country has been through to get to this point, I don’t agree with that.”

While other players on his team protested in 2017, Brees said their reasons were “justified.”

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“I will never say it’s OK to not show respect to the flag of the United States of America during the national anthem,” he said. “That is the symbol of showing respect to our country. I won’t. I don’t think that that’s OK because of all who have fought so hard and died and sacrificed so much for us to have the things we have, to have the freedoms that we have. The very freedom of the speech that we are talking about was born from that flag.”

Brees didn’t say what method of protest would have been acceptable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pirates’ Archer out for the season following surgery

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Chris Archer won’t pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020, and his time with the club may be over.

The 31-year-old right-hander had surgery Tuesday in St. Louis with Dr. Robert Thompson to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. Archer will not be available this season if Major League Baseball finds a way to put together a truncated schedule.

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Pirates director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Archer reported discomfort in the neck/shoulder area on his right side in March shortly before spring training was stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Archer remained on a throwing program when he went home but symptoms continued to linger.

“What made it most challenging for Chris, he didn’t feel the symptoms immediately after throwing,” Tomczyk said. “It was hours afterward. It was the next day.”

Tomczyk estimated Archer will need six-to-eight months of rehabilitation. Archer’s absence this season is another blow to a starting rotation already missing ace Jameson Taillon, who will miss all of 2020 while recovering from a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

The Pirates were banking on a bounce back year by Archer, who is 6-12 with a 4.92 ERA in 33 starts since he was acquired from Tampa Bay at the 2018 trade deadline for outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Archer has struggled to find any consistency with the Pirates, while Meadows became an All-Star last season and Glasnow also blossomed.

Archer’s contract includes a $9 million salary this year, an option that was exercised in November after longtime general manager Neal Huntington was fired and before Ben Cherington was brought on to replace him. Archer will receive only a portion due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Pittsburgh holds an $11 million club option for 2021, with a $250,000 buyout.

Given the timeline for rehab, Archer will not be fully healthy when the Pirates have to decide on the next option.

“There will be other information at the time that we don’t have now,” Cherington said.

Pittsburgh’s starting rotation projects to include Trevor Williams, Joe Musgrove and Mitch Kellar. Cherington mentioned free-agent signee Derek Holland as a potential replacement for Archer and expects any other additions to come from within the club ranks.

“I would imagine any team in baseball is looking to horde pitching and not give it away,” Cherington said. “Our focus is going to be on the guys that are here in the organization now.”

The Pirates made an aggressive move in 2018 when it brought in Archer, giving up a top prospect in Meadows in hopes Archer could give the starting rotation a boost in an effort to make the playoffs. Archer went 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts down the stretch, though Pittsburgh ultimately fell out of contention.

Archer’s 5.19 ERA last year marked a career high. The team shut him down late in the season due to right shoulder discomfort. The ever optimistic Archer was ready for a fresh start when spring training opened, but that optimism faded as the pain lingered.

“It’s tough news for us, it’s even tougher news for him that he’s not going to be able to go out and pitch,” Cherington said.

MLS, players reach new labor deal, resume with tournament.

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Major League Soccer and its players’ union reached an agreement that allows play to resume with a summer tournament in Florida following the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal was announced by the Major League Soccer Players Association early Wednesday following tense talks that led to some players skipping voluntary workouts and the league threatening a lockout.

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MLS and the union agreed Feb. 6 to a five-year labor contract, but the deal had not been ratified when the season was stopped on March 12 after only two matches had been played by each team.

The deal was announced after the killing of George Floyd set off sometimes violent demonstrations across the U.S. over police brutality and injustice against African Americans.

“There are problems we face collectively that are both more urgent, and more important, than competing on the field.,” the union said in a statement. “We hope our return to the field will allow fans a momentary release and a semblance of normalcy.”

The revised CBA, a six-year deal through 2025, includes across-the-board pay cuts and reduced bonuses. The union said players had ratified the deal.

Details of the Florida tournament were still being finalized.. The league’s 26 teams and limited staff would be based in the Orlando area and matches played without fans at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World.

MLS and the union had been negotiating cuts, and some teams had said they were resuming small voluntary group training sessions outdoors. Players from Atlanta, Miami, Minnesota and Vancouver did not report to voluntary training Monday.

Germany won’t punish players for George Floyd protests

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The German soccer federation will not punish players who protest against the killing of George Floyd and racism.

Several players in Germany have made statements with gestures or messages on their clothing since Floyd died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee for several minutes on his neck.

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The federation, known as the DFB, said Wednesday it opposed punishing any players because it believes their anti-racism messages match the federation’s own principles.

“The DFB has made a strong stand against any form of racism, discrimination or violence and stands for tolerance, openness and diversity, values which are also anchored in the DFB’s statutes,” federation president Fritz Keller said in a statement. “Therefore the players’ actions have our respect and our understanding.”

The statement named four players who protested during last weekend’s games — Achraf Hakimi, Jadon Sancho, Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram — but made clear the same approach would apply to any future protests.

The federation has not revoked a yellow card given to Sancho. The federation said Monday that the Borussia Dortmund forward’s booking was for the act of removing his shirt, rather than for the “Justice for George Floyd” message written on his undershirt during Sunday’s 5-0 win over Paderborn.

Other players protested by kneeling, like Thuram, or by showing messages on an armband, like McKennie, or on boots, like Leipzig midfielder Tyler Adams. Only Sancho received a booking.

There were also social media statements, such as one from United States national team goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who is on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf but isn’t playing because of injury.

Germany’s approach has the backing of FIFA. The governing body of world soccer said Tuesday that such demonstrations “deserve an applause and not a punishment.”

Hungary has taken a different approach. Its soccer league gave a written reprimand to a player of African origin, Tokmac Nguen, who displayed a message in solidarity with Floyd after scoring a goal for Ferencvaros on Sunday.

UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, is also set to allow messages related to Floyd and anti-racism when the Champions League resumes.

Players are normally prohibited from espousing their views during a match. The laws of the game state that “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” on equipment is forbidden.

Colin Kaepernick owed ‘tremendous amount,’ Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says

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Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday “we owe a tremendous amount” to Colin Kaepernick for his social justice activism during the 2016 NFL season.

Carroll was joined by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich on his “Flying Coach” podcast, according to the Seattle Times. Carroll opened up on the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 and the ensuing protests that have lasted for about a week.

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Among the topics of conversation was Kaepernick – the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who became the face of athlete activism when he decided to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

“There was a moment in time that a young man captured,” Carroll said. “He stood up for something that he believed in. What an extraordinary moment it was that he was willing to take. I don’t know that he had any idea what the impact would be, as it turned out. But what a symbol of courage and vision.”

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Carroll added: “I think it was a big sacrifice, in the sense, that a young man makes. But those are the courageous moments that some guys take and we owe a tremendous amount to him, for sure.”

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Carroll said the Seahawks’ team meeting included talks about voting, racial education and raising awareness of social injustices in the U.S., according to the newspaper.

NBA to approve 22-team return with Orlando playing host: reports

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The NBA’s board of governors is reportedly set to approve a plan for 22 teams to restart the season in Orlando, Fla., which includes an eight-game regular-season schedule before the playoffs.

The top eight teams in each conference will be invited to the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando as well as the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and the Washington Wizards, ESPN reported Wednesday.

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The league would tip off again July 31 and a Game 7 of a potential NBA Finals series would be Oct. 12. The NBA Draft and free agency would begin soon after, according to ESPN sources.

The board of governors needs a three-fourths passage on the plan but it is reportedly expected to pass overwhelmingly.

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According to Yahoo Sports, the final details of the plan hinge on how many teams and how many people Walt Disney World will need to hold. It is reportedly expected that NBA personnel would arrive at the resort to help get things set up.

Health and safety protocols were not detailed extensively but it is expected to be rigorous, according to Yahoo Sports.

The Athletic reported players will need to shower in their hotels, bench players would sit in spread-out rows and there will be no guests in attendance until at least the playoffs.

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The vote on the plan is expected Thursday.

Terrell Owens slams Broncos’ Vic Fangio over racism assessment in NFL: ‘He needs to be drug tested’

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens slammed Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio after he told reporters during a press conference he doesn’t “see racism at all in the NFL.”

Owens said Fangio needed to be “drug tested” after his comments.

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“’I don’t see racism at all in the NFL, I don’t see discrimination in the NFL’ -Vic Fangio. HE NEEDS TO BE DRUG TESTED!!! What does he think that was against @Kaepernick7?!!,” Owens tweeted.

Fangio’s comments were a part of a 16-minute video conference with reporters. He discussed his feelings on the death of George Floyd, as well as the league, police behavior, and current social climate in the U.S.

“I think our problems in the NFL along those lines are minimal. We’re a league of meritocracy, you earn what you get, you get what you earn. I don’t see racism at all in the NFL, I don’t see discrimination in the NFL,” Fangio said, according to multiple reports. “We all live together, joined as one, for one common goal, and we all intermingle and mix tremendously. If society reflected an NFL team, we’d all be great.”

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He added that he was “shocked” at the behavior of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before the man died.

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Seattle Seahawks players Chris Carson and Quandre Diggs also responded to Fangio’s statement.

Carson called Fangio a “joke” and Diggs wondered whether Fangio was blind.

Ex-NBA player Stephen Jackson promises to walk George Floyd’s daughter ‘down the aisle’

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Former NBA player Stephen Jackson is supporting the family of longtime friend George Floyd in any way he can, telling reporters on Tuesday that he plans to walk his daughter “down the aisle.”

Jackson has been among the most outspoken about Floyd’s death after video showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes, despite his cries for help and his difficulty to breath.

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The one-time NBA champion grew up with Floyd just outside of Houston, and on Tuesday he made a sincere promise to be there for his 6-year-old daughter Gianna.

“There’s a lot of stuff you said that he’s gonna miss — that I’m gonna be there for,” he said at a press conference alongside Gianna’s mother, Roxie Washington, according to Yahoo Sports.

“I’m gonna walk her down the aisle. I’m gonna be there for her. I’m gonna be here to wipe your tears. I’m gonna be here for you and Gigi. Floyd might not be here, but I’m here for her, I’m here to get justice, and we’re gonna get justice for my brother.”

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Jackson posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday of Gianna sitting on his shoulders. She can be heard saying “Daddy changed the world.”

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“We’re not leaving, we’re gonna keep fighting, we’re gonna send [Floyd] home in beautiful ways this week,” Jackson added. “But I’m telling you: We are not leaving, we are gonna demand justice.”

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott pledges $1 million to police training, addressing ‘systematic racism’

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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott announced Wednesday he will pledge $1 million to improve police training across the U.S. and address “systematic racism through education and advocacy.”

In a four-part Instagram post, Prescott vowed to take action and called for justice for George Floyd, the Minneapolis man who died in police custody May 25 after an officer kneeled on his neck for more than 8 minutes in a moment caught on cellphone video.

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“As a Black Multiracial American, I am disgusted and unsettled!” he wrote. “I am as optimistic as they come! I try to understand and find the positive in every aspect of my life.

“My MOM left me the word Faith to live out for a reason. I believe in the good in each individual and this country as a whole! To be humble and to see every man and woman as the same takes humility and accountability.

“As our communities take action, protesting and fighting for the justice of George Floyd and every black life, I am with you!”

Prescott also addressed the violence amid the protests in remembrance of Floyd.

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“I have viewed these protests and riots in our streets as a form of strength and an attempt to show we as Black people have rights that aren’t perceived equally as our counterparts.

“These riots have caused consternation and confusion in an already Crisis-driven world,” he said.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) talks with teammates on the sideline in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

“I do not believe looting or that violence is the answer,” he added. “I have personally struggled, along with our country, since the Coronavirus pandemic began. Anxiety became something I had to understand and battle with as I searched for a bigger purpose without the game of football around. I wanted to help, make a change, be a part of something that fixed the pandemic. I lost an Idol, my brother. He and I shared the same mission: FIND A BIGGER PURPOSE!”

He urged his followers to “take a stand for the greater good of each other” and also had a message for police officers.

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“I have the utmost respect for those of you with a passion for protecting and serving your communities. When you chose to wear the badge of a police officer, you pledged to PROTECT life and property through the enforcement of our laws and regulations. How can you claim to uphold the law when those within your own ranks don’t abide by it? You need to hold your own accountable! Each of you are as guilty as the men who stood beside Derek Chauvin if you do not stand up against the systematic racism plaguing our police forces nationwide. TAKE ACTION!”

Prescott is entering his fifth season with the Cowboys. He is also seeking a lucrative contract extension.

Rams’ Sean McVay says he would support player demonstrations: ‘I would absolutely be open’

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Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay held an emotional meeting with players Tuesday in wake of the police-involved death of George Floyd and the intense protests that followed.

McVay told reporters the meeting was about listening and asking questions, according to the Los Angeles Times. He said he would support Rams players if they decided to protest in some way on the field during the 2020 season.

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“It would be extremely silly of me, if I’m sitting here saying that I’m going to listen, to learn, and try to have an empathy and understanding, to not allow guys the platform if they feel like it’s the right way to represent the healing and some of those solutions that we’re looking to,” he said. “I absolutely would be open and wanting to listen and be open to that.”

Whether he would consider signing Colin Kaepernick – who became the face of athlete activism when he decided to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice during the 2016 season – is a different story.

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McVay expressed support for his own quarterbacks Jared Goff, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins, and Josh Love.

“He hasn’t played in a long time,” McVay said of Kaepernick. “We feel really good about our quarterback situation.”

On Sunday, the Rams released a statement saying they stand with those protesting against racial injustice.

“Sadly, once again our city and our nation are hurting from continued acts of racism and injustice aimed at the Black community,” the team said.

“We stand with all those peacefully seeking to end systemic discrimination and feel the urgency in their words.

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“We know reform, opportunity and hope are needed to create meaningful change throughout our country and we are committed to working with our neighbors to do our part to bring Los Angeles together.”