Reid returns with Carolina, continues anthem protest

Eric Reid called his return to the NFL on Sunday “bittersweet,” saying it still hurts that his friend Colin Kaepernick has been “robbed” of his dream to play again in the NFL.

While the safety is back in the league playing for the Carolina Panthers, Kaepernick remains a free agent. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the league in October of 2017 alleging teams have conspired to keep him out of the league because of his decision to protest racial and social injustice by kneeling during the national anthem.

“Any athlete in the NFL knows how hard you have to work to get here and his career has been cut short,” Reid said following Carolina’s 33-31 win over the New York Giants.

Reid said he is hesitant to express optimism that his signing will open the door for Kaepernick, but added “we’ll see what happens.”

Reid, who was signed as a free agent by the Panthers on Sept. 27, continued his tradition of kneeling during the anthem before Sunday’s game.

None of Reid’s new Carolina teammates joined him or stood near him at midfield. He became the first Panthers player ever to kneel during the national anthem, and did so under first-year owner David Tepper.

With a large American flag in the middle of the field, Reid went to his right knee as the “The Star-Spangled Banner” was sung. After the game Reid wore a shirt that read “Know your rights” and listed 10 points.

Reid said last week he wasn’t sure if he would kneel before the national anthem. He ultimately decided to kneel, saying “I’ve always told myself when the time comes to stop kneeling, I will stop. But that time has not come.”

Reid added that more needs to be done to prevent racial and social injustice.

“We have made baby steps , but people try to give crumbs but present them as cakes,” Reid said.

Reid made his return to the NFL four months after filing a grievance against the NFL alleging teams colluded against signing him during free agency after he knelt alongside Kaepernick, his former teammate in San Francisco.

Beckham clears air

Odell Beckham Jr. said he spoke with his Giants teammates hours before Sunday’s loss to Carolina to clear the air over comments he made last week.

Beckham had talked about quarterback Eli Manning and why the team isn’t throwing the ball farther downfield and playing with more energy. He said after the game that “sometimes stuff comes off the wrong way” and that “words can be portrayed in any kind of light.” But the receiver was quick to add he doesn’t regret anything he said.

“It took that for us to come together as a team like we did today, I can take that every single time,” Beckham said.