Some “star” NFL players are considering sitting out during the 2018 season until both Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid sign with new teams, The Intercept's Shaun King reports.
King adds that the advocates of the idea are hoping for 25 percent participation from fellow players across the league.
Back in 2016, Kaepernick and Reid were at the forefront of the movement to protest by kneeling during the national anthem to raise awareness about racial inequality and police brutality. They have since found it hard to find new teams to play for, supposedly due to their role in the protests.
Kap hasn’t gotten a new deal since he voided his deal with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2017. His meeting with the Seattle Seahawks was canceled due to supposed anthem-related issues. Reid, who became a free agent this offseason, has met with just one team in the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both have filed grievances against the league, claiming teams have colluded to not sign them due to their social activism.
It would certainly send a strong message to the league if a quarter of the league’s players, which supposedly includes several high-profile stars, were to unite and actually hold out for the benefit of two of their peers.
However, it would obviously be difficult to get such a large number of players to sign on, especially due to the financial implications of holding out. While some stars may be able to afford sitting and paying the fines, a majority of the more expendable players around the league may not be so eager to risk their money — and possibly their jobs — for Kap and Reid.
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