Reid says York backs players’ right to protest
In contrast to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who has said he will bench players who don’t stand during the national anthem, 49ers CEO Jed York has given his players his support.
That’s according to 49ers safety Eric Reid, who recently had a conversation with York.
Reid said that York has “expressed very clearly that he wants to support us. That he’s not going to force us to do anything. Speaking for our team, that’s what he’s told me explicitly.”
In the latest twist involving the NFL and players who are protesting social injustice by kneeling during the anthem, Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a memo to 32 teams Tuesday in which he encouraged players to stand. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also has requested that his players stand.
“Like many of our fans, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem. It is an important moment in our game,” Goodell wrote. “We want to honor our flag and our country, and our fans expect that of us.”
Goodell said the NFL also plans to review the issue during next week’s fall league meeting in New York. At those meetings, it’s believed the NFL will discuss a rule change in which it requires to players to stand for the anthem.
On Wednesday, the NFL and NFL Players Association released a joint statement noting “there has been no change in the current policy regarding the anthem.”
After President Trump’s harsh criticism of protesting NFL players Sept. 22, the majority of NFL teams issued statements in response and their players locked arms in shows of unity two days later. Owners such as Jones, Jacksonville’s Shad Khan, Washington’s Daniel Snyder, who donated to Trump’s campaign, locked arms with players.
On Wednesday, Reid was asked if he expected the shift in tone from the NFL on the anthem controversy.
“I was hoping that it wouldn’t, but I did sense that,” Reid said. “They said it was going to be a one-week thing when they did it. I expected it.” Last year, York matched
Colin Kaepernick’s $1 million donation to underserved communities shortly after his landmark anthem protest became public. Last month, York was the third owner to issue a statement in response to Trump, terming his comments “callous and offensive.” Injury report: Reid (knee) and inside linebacker Reuben Foster (ankle) returned to team drills, although they were limited and head coach Kyle Shanahan has yet to commit to them playing Sunday at Washington. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk (back) did not practice and eight other players were limited: linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong (shoulder), safety Adrian Colbert (hamstring), defensive tackle D.J. Jones (back), tight end George Kittle (chest), defensive tackle Earl Mitchell (knee), safety Jimmie Ward (shoulder), linebacker Dekoda Watson (groin) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (concussion).