LeBron: FOX News' treatment of Brees' comments reveals double standard

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has spotted a difference in FOX News' coverage of his past political statements versus remarks recently made by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

In a February 2018 airing of "The Ingraham Angle," host Laura Ingraham criticized James and fellow NBA star Kevin Durant for their comments about President Donald Trump's leadership, exhorting the athletes to "shut up and dribble."

Earlier this week, the 41-year-old Brees was asked how the NFL should respond to athletes who demonstrate their opposition to police brutality and racism by kneeling during the national anthem, a gesture that came to national prominence in 2016 in large part due to then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

"I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America," Brees said, adding that both of his grandfathers served in the U.S. armed forces.

In stark contrast to her previous public stance on athletes weighing in on political matters, Ingraham defended Brees' right to speak his mind, saying, "He's a person. He has some worth, I imagine."

Brees apologized Thursday after widespread backlash from the NFL community, including from several Saints teammates.

"In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country," he wrote in an Instagram caption. "They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy."