Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid has made it clear he is going to continue talking about social issues and taking a knee and Ron Rivera “doesn't have a choice” but to accept it. Rivera has made it clear he has no issue with Reid kneeling, but even if he did, Reid wouldn't be changing his ways.
“Very respectfully, he doesn’t have a choice,” Reid said of Rivera’s support, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “He’s entitled to his opinion, but I know what my rights are. His family was a military family much like many of my people were in the military. My cousin just got back from Afghanistan. My mom was in the armed services. My uncle was enlisted. The list goes on.
“But when they get home they’re still black in America. They’re going to fight the same wars when they get home and still face the same things I’m talking about. So I get encouragement from my family that served in the armed forces because they agree with what I’m saying.”
Reid was one of the first players to start kneeling with Colin Kaepernick, and many believed that he was being shunned this offseason by the NFL just like Kaepernick when he had trouble finding a job. He was signed late by the Panthers and has been solid during his time with the team. He has started all four games he has played and has one sack and 24 tackles.
It's clear that the Panthers have decided he is worth the distraction off the field, something teams have decided Kaepernick is not worth.
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