Saints defiant after 'divisive' Navy vet declines pregame honor

Travis Durkee

Saints defiant after 'divisive' Navy vet declines pregame honor image

A Navy veteran declined to accept a senior citizen award set to be given during the Saints game Sunday against the Buccaneers, citing national anthem protests as the reason. Now the Saints have responded, calling his actions “sad” and “divisive.”

Retired Navy Cmdr. John Wells was named a Peoples Health Champion, an honor given by the Saints in conjunction with Medicare that, according to its website, “recognizes the unique capability of seniors to accomplish things now that they would not have been able to accomplish in their youth.”

However, Wells told the Saints he could not "in good conscience” step into an NFL stadium and accept the honor.

"Although I am touched and honored to be selected for such an award, the ongoing controversy with NFL players' disrespect for the national flag forces me to decline to participate in the presentation," Wells said (via NOLA.com). "Since this award is tainted with the dishonorable actions of the NFL and its players, I cannot accept it. To do so would be hypocritical."

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The Saints responded Thursday with a lengthy statement expressing disappointment with Wells' decision that read in part:

Throughout Mr. Wells’ media appearances today, he has stated he no longer supports NFL football. That is unfortunate and disappointing considering the New Orleans Saints' unwavering 50-plus year commitment to honor, support and recognize our servicemen and women and veterans. … We, as an organization, have decided to move on from this sad and divisive discourse and focus our attention on supporting our military and veterans.

Wells, the head of a Louisiana-based military veterans' organization, also said the NFL’s decision not to mandate players to stand for the anthem “is a slap in the face to all of those who have served in uniform. Men and women have fought and died for the flag that the players are disrespecting."

Travis Durkee