NFL-Protest

Houston Texans Owner Bob McNair apologized last fall for his comments regarding NFL players joining Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest by taking a knee. McNair wasn't here for the protests, warning fellow team owners, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.” He received heavy backlash for the offensive comment, and following mounting pressure, issued an apology for the statement. However, now he's taking it all back. According to the Wall Street Journal, McNair said that his comments had been misunderstood. According to him, the "inmates" he referred to weren't the NFL's players, but the league's executives, McNair felt were trying to usurp the power of the teams' owners.“The main thing I regret is apologizing,” said McNair, who is known for his controversial bluntness. “I really didn’t have anything to apologize for.”“We were talking about a number of things, but we were also washing some of our dirty linen, which you do internally. You don’t do that publicly. That’s what I was addressing: The relationship of owners and the league office,” said McNair, of the comment he made in a meeting following President Trump's public remarks about the protests. “In business, it’s a common expression. But the general public doesn’t understand it, perhaps.”McNair has also been accused of refusing to sign players who participate in the #TakeAKnee protest. McNair has denied doing such, arguing that the Texans are willing to “sign any player that can help our team.” He added that the team had been eyeing Kaepernick, but said coaches “didn’t like the way he threw the ball.”While McNair believes that he has been painted in an inaccurate light, he did also say that he believes the NFL should change its current national anthem policy, which allows players to kneel if they so...

Former San Francisco 49er Eric Reid has yet to be signed by a team. He was the first player to kneel with Colin Kaepernick who has notably remained a free agent since his national anthem protests.In a recent interview with ESPN, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said he believes Reid isn't getting offers from teams due in part to his activism."...It would be hard to say that he's not getting any calls just on talent alone,"Jenkins said. "I think any team that is considering him is going to weigh his political views and the strong stance that he's taken the last couple years, and that's unfortunate, but it's just kind of what it is. So hopefully, teams will look past that and evaluate him as a player, and I think as a player he deserves a spot in this league. But I'd be kidding myself if I said that his stance isn't playing a role in him not having a call yet."If you're the #Cowboys and you haven't had an #NFLFreeAgency sit-down with Eric Reid, you're not doing your job completely enough. pic.twitter.com/PLuTfEhzeJ— mike fisher ✭ (@fishsports) March 23, 2018 Jenkins's viewpoint is certainly not an isolated one. Many people have boycotted the NFL for its unwillingness to sign Kaepernick following his activism and support for racial justice by kneeling during the national anthem. Now, as Reid remains a free agent, many have called out the NFL for seemingly punishing the former 49er for his activism. "If he's not signed come June 1st, then there should be an outcry." — @criscarter80 on Eric Reid still being a free agent pic.twitter.com/HOtRLxzqGZ— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 21, 2018Richard Sherman, who recently signed with the 49ers, reportedly said "legal action" could be taken if Reid remains unsigned."We are concerned, because he played at a high level, made enough plays to be signed and to make his money," Sherman said in a press conference according to CBS Sports. "There is concern there, because you'd think a player of his caliber would be picked up now."Richard Sherman is right. It makes NO SENSE that Eric Reid has not been signed by a team. He is being punished for taking a knee, clearly. Sherman said it's getting to the point where legal action may be necessary. CC @NFLPA https://t.co/tSx7sDGazU— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 26, 2018 Notice how examples are being made of nearly every single football player who had the audacity to use their freedoms to speak out peacefully about police brutality: Kaepernick (not signed), Eric Reid (not signed) and now this highly suspect indictment of Michael Bennett...— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 23, 2018Earlier this month, as the Los Angeles Times reported, Reid commented on his free agent status and NFL owners on Twitter. "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," he wrote. "If you think is, then your mindset is part of the problem too."GMs aren’t the hold up broski. It’s ownership. People who know football know who can play. People who know me, know my character. https://t.co/M9ULziZg5V— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 16,...