Unrest won’t change anthem plans
On Saturday, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch sat on a cooler during the national anthem before a preseason game in Arizona.
On Sunday, Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat on a bench during the national anthem before a preseason game in Los Angeles.
On Monday, 49ers safety Eric Reid, who was among those at the forefront of last year’s anthem protests started by Colin Kaepernick, reiterated he wouldn’t kneel during the anthem this season, despite recent racial unrest in Charlottesville, Va.
Reid had said in April that he would stand this season, believing he and Kaepernick had achieved their goal of creating a national dialogue about racial inequality.
“It doesn’t change my plans,” Reid said Monday. “It’s important to discuss the issues that we have in our country. I think it’s becoming more and more
apparent. Maybe people didn’t see what the black community saw when me and Colin were doing our protests, and other players were doing (their) protests, last year. I think it’s more apparent now after this past weekend.”
Last year, Reid was the first teammate to join Kaepernick in his anthem protest after his stance became public. They were later joined by linebacker Eli Harold, and other players raised fists during the national anthem.
Kaepernick has said he will stand for the national anthem this season, but there is a belief his protest last year and willingness to speak out on social issues explains why he hasn’t been signed by an NFL team after he threw 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 starts last year.
Reid and Kaepernick spoke Sunday and they discussed the unrest in Charlottesville, which was sparked by a white supremacist rally on the University of Virginia’s campus Friday night. On Saturday, a 20-yearold man ran his car into a group of counterprotesters, killing a 32-year-old woman and injuring 19 others.
Kaepernick “said it’s becoming more apparent for people to see the issues that we’re talking about, especially in the way that it happened in Charlottesville,” Reid said. “We’re just hoping that if we keep talking about it … because a lot of people just want things to blow over. ‘Oh, that’s an isolated incident.’ It happens every day. And if we can keep talking about it, hopefully we can make this change. And it needs to stop being hopefully. It needs to happen. It needs to happen now.”
Reid and Kaepernick also discussed what Reid termed the quarterback’s “job hunt.” Reid dismissed the idea that Kaepernick needs to speak out and let teams know he’s interested in continuing his career.
“I think that’s ridiculous,” Reid said. “What does he need to say to prove that he wants to be in the NFL? He’s training every day. He’s been to a Super Bowl. He has the tape. What does coming out and saying, ‘I want to play in the NFL’ do?
“It’s obvious. I think it’s a diversion, along with all the other false narratives that are out there about him, to deflect. … They’re trying to put the blame on him for not being in the NFL.”
The Seahawks have been the only team to bring in Kaepernick for a visit since free agency began in March, but they opted to sign Austin Davis. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been in contact with Kaepernick, and Baltimore could use a capable backup. Starter Joe Flacco has been sidelined throughout training camp with a back injury and his replacement is Ryan Mallett, who has a 64.9 career passer rating.
The Ravens have denied a report that owner Steve Biscotti is against signing Kaepernick. Biscotti has said publicly that the potential for fan backlash would be a consideration as the team weighed whether to bring Kaepernick aboard.
Reid noted Kaepernick’s jersey was the NFL’s top-seller last year during the height of his protest as he pushed back against the idea that fans and sponsors would abandon a team that signed Kaepernick.
During the offseason, Reid attended “Know Your Rights” camps funded by Kaepernick for youth in Chicago and New York.
“I think our society today, the negativity is at the forefront, so you see all the people that have outrage about this or that,” Reid said. “But when I walked with Colin in Chicago or New York, I can’t explain to people the amount of support we got. Not me. Him.
“When we walked down the street, literally every couple steps we took somebody would come up to him and tell him how much they respected what he did for the community. … There’s a huge amount of support for him in our country.”