Reid was caught off guard by Brown's questioning and wasn’t willing to make a commitment on the spotGETTY IMAGES
Bengals Owner Mike Brown "personally met" with free agent S Eric Reid when he visited Cincinnati on Monday, and Brown "initiated discussion regarding the issue of kneeling during the anthem," according to a source cited by Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. The conversation "almost exclusively centered on the topic, with Brown explaining that he intends to prohibit it -- and with Brown at one point asking Reid for his response." Reid, "caught off guard by the line of questioning, wasn’t willing to make a commitment on the spot." Reid last month said that he is "currently not planning to kneel or otherwise demonstrate during the anthem." But Reid, who is "considering other options for bringing attention to societal issues he considers to be important, hasn’t made any final decisions, and he wasn’t willing to do so at the direct request and behest of Brown." After the meeting with Brown, Reid "spent time" with members of the Bengals coaching staff. He developed a "clear sense" that the coaches were interested in signing him and "weren’t concerned about whether he’d kneel or otherwise demonstrate during the anthem or at any other time." But late in the visit, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis "asked Reid if he wants to clarify anything that Reid told ownership regarding the anthem." Reid said that he "had no clarifications or changes" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/11).
OF ALL THE TEAMS: In N.Y., Daniel Popper notes the Bengals over the past decade have "signed, drafted and continued to employ football players with histories of unacceptable behavior both on and off the field." But it seems Brown "draws his line at non-violent protest" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 4/12). In DC, Des Bieler writes if Reid’s protests are a "sticking point for Brown, it would be a notable line in the sand for the owner, given his willingness over the years to stock his roster with some of the NFL’s most notorious players" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/12). YAHOO SPORTS' Frank Schwab wrote whatever fans "think of the various NFL player protests during the national anthem, they’re more constructive than domestic violence" or "wishing death upon a police officer." But that is "apparently not true" in Brown’s world. Other teams "might still have some high moral ground on which to operate that way." The Bengals are "not one of them" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/11).
JUST HOW THE GAME WORKS? FS1’s Colin Cowherd said Reid is a "marginal player" and "so is" Colin Kaepernick. Cowherd: "Great players have leverage with GMs, marginal players are going to be asked questions and they don't have leverage. This is the way employment works. The better talent, the more I dictate terms with my boss." FS1’s Jason Whitlock noted Brown is "running a business." Whitlock: "A business that I think made very clear last year that the national anthem protests hurt television ratings, which hurt the business. So if a businessman can't ask a potential employee about a decision that clearly has hurt the business, what are we talking about here?” Whitlock added Reid "can't be surprised that he got asked about it” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 4/11). NBCSN's Chris Simms said of Brown asking Reid about the protests, "I don't have an issue with it." Simms: "I'm all for the players and the protesting against social injustices." But Simms said when it came to players kneeling last season, he thought they were "losing the message." Simms: "The Bengals don't want to deal with that kind of distraction in their locker room" ("PFT," NBCSN, 4/12). FS1's Shannon Sharpe said, "Talent should win out, but we know how they view this stance. They've made it abundantly clear that they view this worse than anything else that an individual could have possibly done, so you know that going in. I'm surprised that Eric Reid didn't expect this, and he wasn't better prepared to answer this” (“Undisputed,” FS1, 4/12).
OWNERS TAKING CONTROL: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote connecting "employability between a team and player to kneeling" is "something the NFL has been trying to avoid, especially because of the blackballing and collusion allegation" brought by Kaepernick. It also signals that while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "continues to paint player protests during the anthem as a topic of continued discussion, league owners have moved forward." Owners "aren’t just creating their own rules in spite of the league office’s reticence to do so -- they’re establishing their own standards in less subtle fashion than ever before." A particular set of owners "aren’t going to let Goodell and the league office control the narrative on the issue anymore" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/11). THE UNDEFEATED's Brando Simeo Starkey wrote the NFL "could potentially suffer mightily" if Reid is not playing this season. It is possible many people "overlooked how the NFL’s ratings decline might have been fueled by people refusing to watch a product that would blackball" Kaepernick. In "coddling the racially resentful sector of its fan base, the league is harming its own bottom line" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 4/11). PFT's Florio: "Instead of fixing the policy with bargaining with the union, making concessions, doing something to come to a consensus with the players collectively that there will be an agreement to stand during the anthem, the NFL is trying team by team to impose this" ("PFT," NBCSN, 4/12).
GETTING INVOLVED: THE ATLANTIC's Louisa Thomas profiles Eagles S Malcolm Jenkins, who spoke about "political organizing" and the "tension in activism between collaboration and confrontation." Jenkins said what Kaepernick "has had to go through is just not right." Jenkins: "Whether he can prove it or not, everyone understands that his stance is the reason he doesn’t have a job." Jenkins added "there's something to be learned" from being both confrontational and collaborative in activism efforts. He noted when the Players Coalition, which he helped launch last year, met with the NFL, the league "recognized significant opportunity to collaborate." But Jenkins said, "We are not watering down the message for anything. There is a time to be stubborn, and a time to negotiate." Regarding players who may want to be involved, but are worried about job security, Jenkins said, "I understand that situation. That’s why we’ve tried to create a safer environment for getting involved. It doesn’t have to be controversial. ... You don’t have to take a knee to be a part of the movement" (THE ATLANTIC, 5/'18 issue).
