Sean Payton and Drew Brees say there was a misunderstanding among Saints fans when they booed the team prior to Sunday’s kickoff against the Detroit Lions.

The team planned to kneel before the national anthem and then stand during it, as they did in London, but this time many players were kneeling during the team’s moment of silence for NOPD officer Marcus McNeil, who was killed in the line of duty last week.

Drew Brees says those who knelt didn’t hear the announcement for the moment of silence.

“We couldn’t hear anything that was being said,” Brees said.

“I had heard there was going to be a moment of silence for the police officer who was slain, but we could not hear anything that was going on. So, you’re just kind of watching because they already had everybody out there ready to sing the national anthem and then there’s the flag, as well.

“So, typically what we do is we take a knee, and then once you kind of hear the cue or once you see the flag being walked out there, then you all stand up. So, I think there was just a bit of confusion. Certainly, there was no disrespect in that regard.”

Sean Payton also said the whole thing was a matter of simple confusion.

“You had a triangular effect of misunderstanding,” Payton said.

“Number one, the players were going to knee [before] and stand for the anthem. That’s understood. Then, number two, there was a moment of silence for the slain officer, and quickly then, everyone realized, hey, let’s have a moment of silence. I don’t think it was anything more than that.”

“I think it was an initial reaction by the fans that some players might be on a knee for the anthem, oh, but that wasn’t the anthem. It was easy to see what happened.”