Saints' Drew Brees clarifies analogy
One day after tweeting an analogy comparing the NFL's bounty investigation to former President George W. Bush's administration using the media to shape public opinion on Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees sought to clarify his point in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder.
Saints Bounty Scandal
An NFL investigation found the New Orleans Saints operated a bounty system that rewarded 22 to 27 players for hard hits and for injuring opposing players.
Profile »
"If NFL fans were told there were 'weapons of mass destruction' enough times, they'd believe it," Brees tweeted Monday. "But what happens when you don't find any????"
In a text message to Werder on Tuesday, Brees said he did not mean to offend anyone with his analogy.
"My comments about 'weapons of mass destruction' had nothing to do with politics or war," Brees said in the text. "I have an extreme respect for our military and have not nor will I ever compare football to war. They are the soldiers, they risk their lives, they defend our freedom and make this world a safer place.
"I was merely drawing an analogy to explain how a media campaign can strongly influence public perception. I apologize if i offended anyone. This bounty allegation is a serious matter that affects the lives and careers of a lot of people and the integrity of the game. We need to make sure the process is fair and correct and that the truth is revealed rather than predetermined conclusions."
Brees has made five USO trips to nine countries in his support of United States Armed Forces.
Brees also took to Twitter on Tuesday to reiterate his clarification.
"My WMD comment has nothing to do with politics or our brave military. Merely an analogy to show how media influences public perception," Brees tweeted. " I apologize if the WMD comment offended anyone. Especially our military. There is no one I respect more than our service men and women."
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE NFL HEADLINES
- Report: NFL calls for immediate HGH testing
- Goodson legal issues predate recent arrest
- Pack's Rodgers: Urlacher favorite opponent
- Vick says he's still NFL's fastest quarterback
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
The NFL on ESPN.com

- Follow the NFL on ESPN on Facebook
- Fantasy Football on ESPN.com | Play
- NFL preview home | NFL Nation blog
CLAYTON/FOX/SCHEFTER
- Fox: 49ers determined to reach goals
- Clayton: Packers, Patriots take it easy
- Schefter's 10 Spot: Rookie QBs ready?
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
WEEK 1 PICKS
BOUNTY BANS OVERTURNED
- Story: Players' punishment lifted
- Bryant: Vilma's fight for his name
- Chadiha: Players' win a gut punch to Goodell
- Brandt: Ruling a blow to Goodell's power
- SportsNation: The right move?
FINAL WORD
2013 NFL DRAFT
- Ranks:
Scouts top 150 | Kiper Big Board - McShay: Top 150 numbers and trends
- McShay: Week 2 matchups to watch
- Kiper's top 5s: Seniors | Juniors
- Cheat Sheets: QBs | RBs | TEs | WRs | OL
- Defensive Cheat Sheets: DL | LBs | DBs
MORE NFL COVERAGE
- Sprow: Packers have top WR/TE group

- Polian: Which rookie QBs can win now?

- Edwards: How Vontae Davis helps Colts

- Joyner: A rookie QB revolution is upon us
- Photo gallery: Art Modell

- Clayton: Modell was mostly a model owner
- Chadiha: Meet The Indispensables
- Double Coverage: Pats-Titans breakdown
- Yasinskas: New looks for NFC South QBs
- Fleming: Rodgers is the best franchise QB
- Jaworski: The old Peyton Manning?

- Outsiders: Week 1 Upset Watch
- Joyner: Packers' D will take huge leap

- Hensley: Big Ben aims for 'elite' club
- MVP Watch: Rodgers a shoo-in?
- Rookie Watch: Why Luck is special

- Hill: A less fun NFL kickoff
- Scouts Inc.: Week 1 previews

- Seifert: Packers focused on four key stats
ALSO SEE
- Bowen: 5 second-year breakout candidates
- Sprow: Namath wrong, Smith pick smart
- Joyner: 5 fantasy breakout players
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

