Quarterback Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints
RE: Statement on President Trump's comments
I disagree with what the President said and how he said it. I think it was unbecoming of the Office of the President of the United States to talk like that, to degrade people like that and obviously, he's disappointed a lot of people. As far as the National Anthem protest, I've said this before and I'll say it again – let me say this first. Do I think there is inequality in this country? Yes I do. Do I think that there is racism? Yes I do. I think that there is inequality for women, for women in the workplace. I think that there is inequality for people of color, for minorities, for immigrants, but as it pertains to the National Anthem I will always feel that if you are an American that the National Anthem is the opportunity for us all to stand up together to be unified and to show respect for our country – to show respect for what it stands for, the birth of our nation. We will, there will always be issues with our country. There will always be things that we're battling and we should always be striving to make those things better, but if the protest becomes that we're going to sit down or kneel and not show respect to the flag of 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 do not agree with that. I feel like that is a unifying thing. The National Anthem and standing for the National Anthem and looking at the flag with your hand over your heart is a unifying thing that should bring us all together. And we say, you know what, things are not where they should be, but we will continue to work and strive to make things better – to bring equality to all people, men, women, no matter what your race, creed, religion, it doesn't matter. Equality for all, but if you're an American I will always believe that we should be standing, showing respect to our flag with our hand over our heart. There you go.
RE: Did teammates ask you for "permission"
No. Again, I acknowledge that there is inequality in this country and that there is…I acknowledge the protest and I will say that they're justified in their reason, but again I will never agree that it's OK to not show respect to the flag of the United States of America during the National Anthem, which is, that is the symbol of showing respect to our country. I won't. I will never…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 be able to have the things that we have, be able to live in the country we live in, to have the freedoms that we have – the very freedom of speech that we're talking about was born from that flag. So again, I feel like the National Anthem should be a unifying thing. This is where we can all hold hands, stand arm in arm, but we stand up and we show respect and we show that we're unified and that we will work to make things better. Because at the end of the day, listen, I…. everyone deserves to regardless of your race, religion, your creed, your color to be respected and you should respect others and we should all work to help one another. And I understand that there are inequalities in this country that need to be fixed, that need to be worked on, but again the National Anthem is a time for us to be unified and stand arm in arm and say you know what, we're all going to fight and strive to make things better for everyone.
RE: Alternative for protesters to show their dissatisfaction
That's a good question. No. I'm not sure, I'm not sure. But again, I want my message to be very clear that I feel like it's a unifying thing for us all to stand together as Americans and say, you know what, things are not the way they should be right now, but I will continue to strive to make them better. If it could just start with everyone respecting each other and working to help others in need. I think if we could just start with that then we could go a long way.
RE: If he knew if his teammates were kneeling
I'm not sure who on our sideline was kneeling. I'm not sure what took place because I was standing on the sideline and I was locked in on the flag so I'm not sure of what took place.
RE: Will you address with team as primary leader
Yeah. Absolutely. These are candid conversations that we have a lot. At the lunch table, in the locker room. I've had these conversations with many of my teammates before. Again, I'm not coming in here – I'm straight out of the shower, so I'm not sure what happened pre-game today because like I said I was locked in, but I'll talk to all of my guys and we'll be fine.
RE: How did it feel to get the win
Felt great to get a win. Felt great to break the seal. I think we as a team have been making steps in the right direction and it's just little things. I think we all felt like we were a lot closer than maybe it seemed or felt. When you come away with two losses to start the season, there is a sense of urgency to get things started fast. It would be easy to get disappointed and maybe down, but just got back to basics this week in some ways. We knew that we, if we could just take care of some of these things, really little things, but yet they can make a big difference like staying on the field on 3rd down and we did a good job of that all game long. Offensively, score touchdowns in the red zone. Those have been two points of emphasis all week. Defensively, we did a great job today after the first two drives just settling in and getting us three turnovers today. That's huge. Getting us three short fields like that. We felt like we played the game on their side of the field for the most part which had a huge thing to do with the victory.
RE: Ted Ginn, Jr.
Man, it was great. Ted's been a great addition. There's a lot of things that he can do. Very versatile. I know a lot of guys touched the ball today. A lot of guys had their hand in this victory, but that's what we like to do as an offense. We like to spread it around.
RE: Urgency to get a win
Again, divisional game. They're a contender and that defense is obviously the best in the league. We knew we had our work cut out for us. We know we needed to be uber efficient today, which I felt like we were. We were able to get the job done.
RE: Julius Peppers said this is best Panthers defense he's seen
I think he's right. He was here for quite a few years. He was part of that Super Bowl team in what, 2003. That defense was pretty salty, but he's obviously been doing it a high level for a long time and to add him to that group of pass rushers and just that front seven, those linebackers, you know those corners playing with a lot more confidence and really good at the safety position as well, like I said, we knew we had our work cut out for us. We knew we had to be efficient.
RE: Set tone early with WR Michael Thomas
His number was getting called early, but there are these plays where that ball can go to a lot of different places depending on the look. He was able to get open and do great things when he got the ball in his hands. The first touchdown was a really nice play on his part because he was kind of doubled and he was able to shake free and make a play on the ball and that was a good way to start the game
RE: Pre-snap motions to get Thomas open
We never got him on a linebacker but I think we were able to just play fast enough, kind of our type of tempo, we're quick strike. We're just operating fast and efficient.
RE: Expect more teams to pay attention to him
There were definitely times when you feel like a team has a game plan for somebody and hey, they're going to double him at times. There are a lot of different ways, but yeah we saw a little bit of that today.
RE: Rookies plays today
That's a good thing. (Alvin) Kamara getting his first touchdown. It was a really nice run. The way he was able to get through that hole quickly and then kind of tiptoe into the endzone. A lot of young guys making plays today. It's great for their confidence and great for our confidence as a team.
RE: Exploit Panthers secondary
They are a really good group. We knew we had our work cut out for us, just marching the ball down the field methodically. We knew it was going to be take what they give you and be patient. We were able to hit a couple of big plays, but for the most part just be methodical.
RE: First time in your career without turnover in first three games
Obviously, that's been a huge point of emphasis for our team, for me personally. Again, trying to be efficient and put us in the best place to win.
RE: Cam Newton's play looks the same
Yeah, he does to me. He's still a very, very good player. Thanks.
Wide Receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.
New Orleans Saints
RE: His performance
When your number is called, you have to make the plays. It does not matter where they line me up, I have to make the play.
RE: Team's performance
We came out with more intensity, and a sense of urgency. We attacked them, we did not let them attack us. We played confident football, and made a lot of huge plays on offense, and defense. That's Saints football, and that is what we have been waiting for.
Linebacker A.J. Klein*_
New Orleans Saints_*
RE: New Orleans defense
We had great communication on the backend, and actually took care of the run game early on. We knew what they were going to do to test us, we responded and made our changes that we needed to, and played a great game.
RE: Momentum moving forward
We showed what we can do when things go right. We showed that we can be a great defense. This is momentum for London, and then our bye week. We just need to keep this thing rolling.
RE: Motivation
We knew what everyone was saying. We gave up too much earlier in the season. We gave up over 400 yards a game, and did not create turnovers.
Running Back Zach Line_
New Orleans Saints_
RE: Thoughts about the win
It felt good to get the W.
RE: His decision to sit
Just recent events that have been taking place lately. Just standing with the protest, and showing the world where we stand with equality, not just for African Americans. There is a need for change.
RE: Public perception
It is not all about us. I have family that grinds, and works hard to make a living. It is more about us as people.
Wide Receiver Michael Thomas
New Orleans Saints
RE: His performance
When your number is called, you have to make the plays. It does not matter where they line me up, I have to make the play.
RE: Team's performance
We came out with more intensity and a sense of urgency. We attacked them, we did not let them attack us. We played confident football, and made a lot of huge plays on offense and defense. That's Saints football, and that is what we have been waiting for.
Safety Kenny Vaccaro*_
New Orleans Saints_*
RE: Not standing for the Anthem
I was just sitting on the bench as the game was about to begin and I was like you know what, I am not getting up. I asked Rafael Bush if he was going to get up, and the next think I knew, everyone was joining me.
RE: Was it premeditated
Not at all. The team did not talk about it. I know how it is viewed by a lot of teams and a lot of owners, but at the same time I thought it was bigger than football.
RE: Donald Trump's comments
I don't think it is against Trump. People are taking it as Trump versus the league or Trump versus the NBA, and it is not about that. Guys are not sitting because of Trump.
