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CHARLOTTE, NC – The safety of the New Carolina Panthers Eric Reid, wearing a black t-shirt with #IMWITHKAP on the front, has made it clear that his fight against social injustice is not over, even though his return to the NFL was faster than expected.
Reid said "without a doubt" that his NFL collusion case will continue. The 26-year-old also said that he was still considering other ways to protest social injustice outside the national anthem, while he started with the former San 49ers quarterback Francisco, Colin Kaepernick, in 2016.
"I am still evaluating the reach of our country and I will make that decision later," Reid said Monday, his first interview since signing with Carolina on Thursday.
Reid said the Panthers (2-1) did not ask if he would protest during the national anthem before signing. He is not worried about the fans' reaction to a 2016 game at Carolina's Bank of America Stadium when he and Kaepernick knelt in a second week loss to the 49ers.
"I mean, I've felt those emotions over and over again," Reid said. "You can not live at home in America without being killed, it is powerful, I will continue to speak for my people."
Reid signed a one-year contract worth up to $ 2 million with incentives for recess and the Pro Bowl. He will receive a base salary of $ 1,214,286, with training bonuses of $ 390,000 for a total of $ 1.39 million and a salary cap of $ 1.69 million.
The Panthers signed with Reid to replace veteran Da 'Norris Searcy, who was recently placed on the wounded list after suffering his second concussion in a month.
The 2013 Pro Bowl selection indicated that the Panthers and 49ers were the only teams to offer him a contract. He chose the Panthers "because they had a better offer".
Reid arrived at the training on Monday bearing number 25 and walking with rookie cornerback Donte Jackson, like Reid, a former LSU actor. He immediately started working with the first team, achieving 60% of the defensive shots.
Carolina coach Ron Rivera said Reid could enter Sunday's game against the New York Giants.
Rivera added that Reid and he had a good conversation about what they thought about the anthem. Rivera, who grew up in a military family, was adamant that players must stand up and show respect, even though he never made it mandatory.
"We are happy to know that he is a young man and who we are as an organization," said Rivera.
Reid said that he did not expect to be back to football as quickly. He refused to give much details about this aspect or other aspects of his demonstrations, because "these circumstances have to do with my case".
In 2016, Reid was the first player to join Kaepernick on his knees during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality.
In May, the NFLPA filed a lawsuit against the NFL on behalf of Reid, alleging that the team's owners and the league, influenced by President Donald Trump, agreed to prevent his employment because of his protests. Kaepernick, who filed a similar grievance in October 2017, remains unsigned.
Panthers GM Marty Hurney told ESPN that the team began exploring options last Monday and invited Reid to meet with staff on Wednesday. When asked if Reid's grievance with the NFL was a factor, he replied: "It was a football decision."
Rivera said the same thing on Monday, citing the need for security for veterans.
Reid said he was happy to be back in football. He also made it clear that he always feels so strong about the issue of empowerment that has brought him to manifest.
"I'll say it like that," Reid said. "Next year will be in 2019. It will mark 400 years of the first slave attack in this country, 400 years of systemic depression, slavery, Jim Crow, the new Jim Crow, incarceration. The Great Depression, they reached a new agreement, blacks did not have access to these government stimulus plans.The new agreement was set up, known as the modern middle class.GI Bill, social security, home loans, none of that.
"So this has happened since my people came here, so I felt the need to say something about it."
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