New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees compares bounty investigation to Iraq War buildup, apologises later
Many New Orleans Saints players and fans believe that the National Football League (NFL) does not have the necessary evidence to justify the harsh punishments given by commissioner, Roger Goodell.
The regular leaks of bounty evidence to the media have also sowed seeds of doubts among the supporters who are unhappy with the way the league is handling the issue.
Many players believe that the regular leaks to the media are a ploy by the NFL to change public perception about the case.
New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, believes the same and on Monday took to Twitter to condemn the league’s handling of the scandal and made an analogy relating the NFL to the George W Bush Administration which used the media to get the public into
supporting the war against Iraq.
On Twitter Brees said.
"If NFL fans were told there were 'weapons of mass destruction' enough times, they'd believe it. But what happens when you don't find any????"
However, on Tuesday the quarterback sought to explain his analogy and said that he did not mean to offend anyone with it.
He also said that the analogy had nothing to do with politics and war and said that he holds the American Military in the highest regard.
"My WMD comment has nothing to do with politics or our brave military. Merely an analogy to show how media influences public perception. I apologize if the WMD comment offended anyone. Especially our military. There is no one I respect more than our service
men and women."
The NFL on Monday revealed most of the evidence it had collected on the bounty programme to the media and also conducted appeals hearings for the four players Goodell suspended for their leadership role in the illegal system.
Brees is still embroiled in a contract stand-off with the New Orleans Saints and is still to sign his franchise tender as he continues to hold out.
Both the Saints and Brees have till July 16th to agree on a new deal.
The bounty scandal continues to make news as new information is revealed with each passing day and it will be interesting to see what decision Goodell will reach in relation to the appeals filed by Saints players.
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