Former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid has signed a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
“Eric has been a starting safety in the NFL and has played at a high level throughout his career,” general manager Marty Hurney said in a Panthers’ press release. “After we put [safety] Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve, Ron [Rivera] and I discussed our options, and Eric was at the top of our list. He is a physical safety with good ball skills and play-making ability.”
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2018
Reid was one of the first NFL players to kneel beside his teammate at the time, Colin Kaepernick.
He filed a collusion case against the NFL and has claimed that teams won’t sign him because he kneeled during the national anthem. It’s unclear what will happen with the lawsuit now that he has signed with a team.
My brother, you have been such an inspiration to the community. I’m so glad to have been able to attend another @yourrightscamp @kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/AUhTYZxft4
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) May 7, 2017
“The notion that I can be a great signing for your team for cheap, not because of my skill set but because I’ve protested systemic oppression, is ludicrous. If you think is, then your mindset is part of the problem too,” Reid tweeted in March.
Reid previously met with the Cinncinati Bengals owner but they decided not to sign him after he wouldn’t commit to standing to the national anthem. (Bengals Decide Not To Offer Contract To Anthem Kneeler Who Did Not Commit To Standing)
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