Eric Reid files grievance against NFL, saying owners are keeping him out
Reid believes he has been blackballed.
Eric Reid, the San Francisco 49ers safety who has knelt during the national anthem at games for the past two seasons, filed a grievance against the NFL, saying the league had blackballed him because of his actions.
Reid’s move mirrors that of the former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who led a wave of sideline protests against social injustice and police brutality against African-Americans and filed a grievance last season after being unable to land an NFL job.
Like Kaepernick’s, Reid’s case would be heard by an arbitrator. The taking of depositions is underway in Kaepernick’s case.
In a New York Times article in September, Reid said his protests during the national anthem were motivated by “the incredible number of unarmed black people being killed by the police.”
Of Kaepernick, he said, “Anybody who has a basic knowledge of football knows that his unemployment has nothing to do with his performance on the field.”
Reid, whose Niners contract expired after the season, met with the Bengals last month. News reports said that kneeling for the anthem was the main topic of conversation. No contract offer was forthcoming.
Reid was present at a meeting in October of owners, players and executives about the sideline protests, which several players were participating in, and which had drawn much criticism, up to and including from President Donald Trump.
At that meeting, a tape of which was obtained by The New York Times, Reid said of Kaepernick: “I feel like he was hung out to dry. Everyone in here is talking about how much they support us. Nobody stepped up and said we support Colin’s right to do this. We all let him become Public Enemy No. 1 in this country, and he still doesn’t have a job.”
The NFL Players Association said it was aware of Reid’s collusion claim and said, “Our union supports Eric, and we are considering other legal options to pursue.”
Statement on Eric Reid Collusion Grievance pic.twitter.com/Z4eGAADCoE
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 2, 2018
The NFL did not immediately respond to Reid’s claim.
In November, Reid said he knew that kneeling might cause him to be blackballed: “I’m aware of it,” he told The San Jose Mercury News. “I know it’s a possibility. I knew what I signed up for when I started doing this.”
“Eric played well for us last year,” 49ers general manager John Lynch told The Mercury News last month. “I think he’s kind of stuck in a safety market that’s been quiet.”
Reid has played five seasons for the 49ers after they selected him in the first round of the draft out of LSU. He has started 69 of a possible 80 games and has one Pro Bowl selection, in his rookie season.
