Reid went unsigned this offseason after kneeling during the national anthem the past two yearsPANTHERS
The Panthers have signed S Eric Reid, who has been embroiled in a collusion lawsuit against NFL owners, to a “1-year deal,” according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. Panthers Owner David Tepper was “involved in the conversations” (TWITTER.com, 9/27). Reid knelt alongside Colin Kaepernick during the national anthem when both players were on the 49ers, and PRO FOOTBALL TALK’s Mike Florio cites a source as saying that the contract with the Panthers “does not impact Reid’s collusion grievance against the NFL.” Specifically, Reid “did not agree to dismiss or settle his collusion grievance as part of his contract.” The “ongoing unemployment of Reid was only making the collusion more conspicuous,” and there is “one potential piece of evidence that could make the collusion even more conspicuous: If the Panthers cleared the move with the league office before making it, the mere effort to get the green light from the league before signing Reid would be evidence of an atmosphere of collusion.” Absent an “atmosphere of collusion, there would be no need to get the league’s nod of approval.” Florio: “Green light or not, the Panthers did the right thing by looking past non-football matters and making a football decision” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/27).
DO THE RIGHT THING: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith called the move a "step in the right direction by the Panthers organization." He added, "The NFL overall should follow suit and the next player who should get a job is Colin Kaepernick." ESPN's Max Kellerman: "Congratulations to Eric Reid and the Panthers for eventually doing the right thing. This whole thing was a fiasco and an outrage." ESPN's Molly Qerim Rose: "The Panthers had a lot of bad PR with their former owner. This is a good story" ("First Take," ESPN, 9/27). A CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial written prior to the signing of Reid states that signing him would not only be the “right thing for the team, but also the franchise and NFL.” Tepper “surely understands all these things." The editorial notes some fans will "get mad" and "maybe a few" will burn their jerseys on social media. But just as many fans will “see the signing of Reid for what it is -- a good football and business move that also was the right thing to do.” Tepper is sending a "necessary jolt throughout the league" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/27).
RAPID RESPONSE: Tepper was lauded on social media in the immediate aftermath of the signing. Author Rand Getlin: “Kudos to David Tepper and the rest of that front office in Carolina for taking a meaningful step in the right direction.” The Washington Post’s Kent Babb wrote Tepper is “unlike every other NFL owner.” NFL Net’s Mike Garafolo wrote Tepper has been “outspoken in his criticism of Trump in the past,” and green-lighting the signing of Reid is a “pretty big statement.” The Charlotte Observer’s Katie Peralta noted it is “truly a new era” for the Panthers under Tepper. The Raleigh News & Observer’s Luke DeCock wrote Tepper is “wasting no time shaking things up.” SBJ’s Dan Kaplan: “Can’t see this happening under previous ownership.” The Athletic’s Joe Person noted it is “amazing … how quickly the Panthers’ culture is changing in the post-Jerry Richardson era.”
