Panthers sign Reid; players are buzzing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eric Reid is getting another shot in the NFL.
The Carolina Panthers on Thursday signed the free agent safety to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Reid is expected to start right away after the Panthers placed starter Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve last week with a concussion. The 6-1, 215-pound Reid played the first five seasons of his NFL career with San Francisco after the 49ers selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has started 69 games.
Reid’s return to the NFL created a stir around the league, six months after he filed a grievance alleging collusion by the NFL to prevent teams from signing him because of his participation in racial injustice protests during the national anthem alongside former San Francisco 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick.
Some NFL players were excited about the 2013 Pro Bowl safety signing with the Panthers, but were quick to point out they believe Kaepernick should be back in the league as well.
Kaepernick congratulated Reid on Twitter, saying Reid “should have been signed the 1st day of free agency. … He was the 1ST person 2 kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his family and communities in need.”
Cleveland Browns running back Carlos Hyde, who played with Reid and Kaepernick in San Francisco, was stunned to hear his former teammate had been picked up by the Panthers.
“For real?” Hyde said following Cleveland’s practice. “I’m so happy for him. It’s been too long. I kind of felt like they was doing him the same way they were doing Kap, so it’s good to see E-Reid got signed and Kap should definitely be up next. It would be a real good thing then.”
Said Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett, “It’s about time.”
As for Reid, who filed his grievance in May, he was mum during the hoopla Thursday, declining comment through the Panthers and not weighing in on social media except to re-tweet Kaepernick.
Reid, 26, said in March that he doesn’t plan to protest during the national anthem this season. The Panthers have a bye this week and next play at home on Oct. 7 against the New York Giants.
Kaepernick, who filed his grievance in October 2017 and remains a free agent, began protesting racial and social injustice during the 2016 preseason by kneeling during the national anthem. Reid later joined the quarterback. After that other players around the league joined in, much to the displeasure of President Trump, who Tweeted at players to “Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!”
That sparked a polarizing political debate that divided some NFL fans.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills knelt during this year’s season opener against the Tennessee Titans.
“I’m just happy for (Reid), excited to see him get out there on the field and be the impact player we all know he is,” Stills said Thursday. “Obviously I feel like he should have been signed the first day of free agency.”
Stills said he spoke to Kaepernick, his close friend, on Thursday.
“He wants to play. He’s good enough to play. He deserves to play,” Stills said. “I don’t see why a team won’t sign him, or hasn’t signed him.”