First Kaepernick, now Reid?
Another NFL player accuses owners of collusion
NFL owners apparently haven’t learned a thing.
Their eyes remain shut, their hearts unsoftened. That’s the only conclusion one can reach as an unemployed, socially conscious — and vocal — former 49ers starter files a collusion grievance against them and the league.
We’re not talking about Colin Kaepernick. That was last season. (And, yep, still out of work.) The new person in question: safety Eric Reid, a free agent and former teammate of Kaepernick, and the first player to join his protest of police brutality and social injustice two years ago.
Reid hit the open market this spring after his rookie contract expired. A firstround pick out of LSU in 2013, he has started 69 of 70 games and played in the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But with Kaepernick frozen out last season, Reid continued to protest during the national anthem, hoping to raise awareness and affect change in our society.
Reid also ranked among the original members of the players coalition that met with owners in 2017 about the motivation behind the protests while looking to enlist the NFL’s help in social justice causes. Reid and several other players wound up splitting from the coalition because they believed Kaepernick needed to be more involved in the discussions and efforts.
Since free agency started in March, Reid has received one invitation to visit a team, the Bengals. According to reports, owner Mike Brown asked Reid if he planned to continue protest during The Star-Spangled Banner, a polarizing gesture that critics, including President Trump, deem unpatriotic. Reid said he didn’t plan to do so but didn’t get an offer from Brown anyway.
Reid has tweeted his belief that his lack of opportunities stem from his decision to protest. NFL executives brushed off such talk. It’s a slow safety market, they said. But since March, 24 safeties have gotten new deals — just not Reid, who’s better than most.
Like Kaepernick, Reid is working with attorney Mark Geragos on his collusion grievance — a lengthy process, which will feature the deposition of NFL and team officials. Proving collusion is extremely hard. Reid and Geragos must provide concrete evidence that at least two clubs, or the NFL and one of its teams, agreed not to sign him.
Reid faces the risk that the grievance could serve as a death sentence to his career. He’s not dissuaded. Regardless of the outcome, it’s widely believed among players that owners have blackballed Reid and Kaepernick.
The collusion allegations pass the smell test, and Reid could have an even stronger case than Kaepernick. While Kaepernick draws varying opinions regarding his capability as a starting quarterback, the same doesn’t apply to Reid. There’s no way all 32 teams have not one, but two starting safeties equal to or better than Reid.
But, as he said in his tweet earlier this offseason, it’s not up to the coaches and general managers. GMs and coaches want to win. They care about talent and heart. But owners care about their earning potential and power. Signing a player such as Reid or Kaepernick threatens both.
It’s unfortunate Reid has to resort to a collusion claim. It’s even more puzzling that the league has let it come to this. During last year’s meetings, both with members of the players coalition and strictly among themselves, owners gave the appearance that they cared about the issues that concerned protesting players. They pledged $90 million (over a seven-year span) to assist social justice efforts and organizations. Some owners have even taken active roles in leading community outreach efforts or lending financial support to organizations that aim to educate and strengthen citizens and law enforcement.
But with Reid left holding the bag, owners appear disingenuous. They seemingly believe they can rid themselves of the protest dilemma and quiet the player by throwing money in their direction. The majority never paid attention to the heart of the matter.
Later this month, owners will meet in Atlanta to discuss several topics, hammering out a policy for player protocol during the anthem ranking high on the list. Such a policy could wind up leading to a showdown and even more conflict between the sides. It’s unclear whether players would have to sign off on any such policy or if the owners will simply ram it thought. The latter approach would surprise few.
As Kaepernick and Reid remain in limbo, it’s quite clear: The one thing that matters to the owners above all else is doing things their way.