Kaepernick's ex-teammate says teams colluded not to sign him over anthem protest, files grievance
Former San Francisco 49ers safety, Eric Reid, who joined Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem two seasons ago, has filed a grievance against the league, alleging that teams are colluding to keep him unemployed.
The 26-year-old player became a free agent after his five-year rookie contract with the 49ers expired.
Reid was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2013 draft and entered the Pro Bowl and the National Football League (NFL) All-Rookie team the same year.
“Our union is aware that Eric Reid and his legal representatives filed a collusion claim, which will be heard through the arbitration process as spelled out in our collective bargaining agreement.
“Our union supports Eric and we are considering other legal options to pursue,” NFL Players Association said in a statement.
In March, Reid posted a series of tweets claiming that his stance has a serious impact on his career as a professional football player.
"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 wrote.
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.
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 15, 2018
Reid has become the second NFL player to file a grievance against the NFL alleging collusion to be a punitive measure in response to the anthem protests, as CNN reported on Wednesday. Kaepernick, who instigated the wave of ‘take a knee’ actions two seasons ago, has been unsigned since opting out of his contract with the 49ers in March 2017.
He filed a similar collusion grievance against the league in October claiming that the club owners colluded to prevent a franchise from hiring him. Reid accompanied Kaepernick, when he received the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award for his public protests against what he perceived as racial and social injustice, last month.
