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Malcolm Jenkins thinks Saints are 'closer' after Brees' comments

Safety says conversations following QB's controversial statements brought team together

The New Orleans Saints said they’ve worked to get past the controversial comments made by quarterback Drew Brees this offseason regarding protests during the national anthem.

On Thursday, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said he thinks that controversy actually helped bring the team together.

“I think, if anything, the team was probably closer for it, because we've had to have tough conversations and oftentimes, those adversities or those intimate kind of engagements, bring people closer, and I think this is no exception,” Jenkins said.

Brees was asked about players protesting during the national anthem in a June interview, and said he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States.”

That comment drew strong reactions from fans as well as Brees’ teammates, including Jenkins, who said the comments ignored and distracted from the purpose of the protests.

Brees has since apologized for the comments multiple times and vowed to fight for social justice.

Jenkins said he and Brees have personally spoken about the issue and that he considers the quarterback a longtime friend.

“I feel like me and Drew were friends long before 2020. And obviously, the dialogue that he and I had to have publicly, but also privately, I think was important for the country to do and important for us to do,” Jenkins said. “And I think that even moving past that moment, it's going to be ongoing, but as far as a friendship and the willingness for both of us to engage in that dialogue has been cooperative and been encouraging.”

Jenkins has been one of the NFL’s more vocal players with regards to fighting for social justice throughout his career, and the former Philadelphia Eagle said he’s excited that more players and U.S. citizens are calling for changes.

“I think where we are right now as a country, as a league and peers and players, I'm definitely proud of kind of being a part of that initial groundwork,” he said. “But I'm also energized because of how many other people have obviously joined kind of this movement and fight for social justice and demanding that things change significantly and rapidly.

“Myself and a lot of other people sacrificed a lot to kind of lay that groundwork and it really stood on the shoulders that came before us. And I think we're at a moment right now where we can significantly push that agenda forward.”

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill