FA Reid: I won’t protest anthem
Free agent safety Eric Reid said Thursday he is not planning to protest during the national anthem this upcoming season.
Reid has been among the NFL’s most visible protesters since former San Francisco teammate Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand for the national anthem in 2016.
Reid continued the protest of racial injustice and police brutality against minorities by kneeling during the anthem last season as Kaepernick was unable to find a job. But Reid said he will take a different approach in 2018.
“We understand you have to change with the times,” he said after watching his brother, Justin, take part in his Pro Day at Stanford. “I’m not saying I’m going to stop being active because I won’t. I’m just going to consider different ways to be active, different ways to bring awareness to the issues of this country and improve on the issues happening in this country.”
Reid has gotten no contract offers more than a week into free agency despite a record of strong play on the field and versatility that many teams usually covet.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch said the team is monitoring the market for Reid but the Niners are mostly set at safety with Jaquiski Tartt, Jimmie Ward and Adrian Colbert under contract.
Reid has said that he understands his activism could affect his employment, especially after watching Kaepernick go unsigned for more than a year.
“I said before, I stand by what I’ve done,” he said. “I know why I’ve done it. My faith in God is the reason. I can go to sleep at night confident that I did what I was taught to do. I’m just going to stay positive, keep training, keep staying in shape and we’ll see what happens.”
James Harden scored 21 points, including 10 of Houston’s 12 points in overtime, to shake off a tough four quarters and lift the host Rockets to a 100-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.
After going 2 of 16 in regulation, including missing a shot that would have won it, Harden warmed up in overtime. He put Houston up with a basket early in the period before making it 9390 on a threepoint play after a basket by Andre Drummond.
Three pitchers were ejected along with Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler and bench coach Rob Thomson as three batters were hit by pitches during the Phillies’ 6-2 exhibition loss to Detroit in Clearwater, Fla.
Detroit starter Matthew Boyd and Philadelphia relievers Parker Frazier and Pedro Beato also were tossed by plate umpire Tom Hallion. Boyd was ejected in the fifth inning following a two-pitch sequence to Odubel Herrera.
Herrera appeared to get out of the way of the second pitch. Hallion determined the ball hit him on the hand.
“It was crazy,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I guess once the precedent was decided that he thought we threw intentionally at him, I guess decided he had to set the tone. It was nothing intentional about anything.”
Frazier and Kapler were tossed after the minor leaguer hit Derek Hill with a 76 mph pitch in the eighth. Beato and Thomson were ejected after Dylan Rosa was hit in the ninth.