Drew Brees knows that his voice is heard by a lot of fellow NFL players and fans. And he's trying to send a message to them all with strong words about Commissioner Roger Goodell to Sports Illustrated's Peter King.
"Nobody trusts him. Nobody trusts him," Brees said when asked about players' attitudes toward Goodell. "I'm not talking about a DUI, or using a gun in a strip club, which are pretty clear violations. I think there're too many times where the league has come to its decision in a case before calling a guy in, and the interview is just a façade. I think now if a guy has to come in to talk to Roger, he'll be very hesitant because he'll think the conclusion has already been reached."
The Saints implicated in the "bounty" scandal mostly have kept their lips zipped in meetings with Goodell. The approach hasn't helped. Brees wasn't the only one speaking out over the weekend.
"NFL stands for NOT for Long!! in the league and Life," Jeremy Shockey wrote on Twitter. "The no it all Rog goodell lied to every player and told us concussions will not effect us in life that a LIE."
Brees' opinion carries weight. Shockey's words will be heard too, but also by NFL general managers considering him as a potential last-minute signing. They might be reminded that Shockey's declining skill set isn't worth the trouble.
