Eric Reid pushed for it, and now it appears it will happen. According to a source close to former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, he will be invited to the next meeting between owners and players on starting a campaign to help communities of color.
Reid attended the first meeting between players and owners at the tail end of the owners meetings in New York last week. Reid emerged saying Kaepernick, as the instigator of the national anthem protest, should be involved.
Kaepernick would presumably be the only non-employed NFL player to join the meetings and his presence going forward was advocated by players. Reid said the meeting went well, however, he wants to see what specific campaigns the NFL and the players are willing to under take before he would end his protest.
Reid is one of about two dozen players that continues to kneel for the anthem. He was joined by teammates Eli Harold, Marquise Goodwin, defensive back Adrian Colbert, and linebacker Reuben Foster during the last game.
Kaepernick originally sat for the anthem in August of 2016 to protest police killings of presumably innocent men of color. He then modified his protest by kneeling after connecting with former NFL player and Marine Nate Boyer. Kaepernick agreed to kneel to honor those who have died in recent wars, and for those who continue to fight.
Kaepernick backed up his protest by donating $1 million to causes to help poor neighborhoods and communities of color, which included funds to the Meals on Wheels program.
His experience working with 49ers CEO Jed York on combining on campaigns could be valuable for the league. York also agreed to donate $1 million to similar causes that Kaepernick supported. Even before working with Kaepernick, York invited police and kids of color from at-risk communities to play in flag football games together at the team’s Santa Clara facility.
Reid said he was appreciative of York’s efforts in last Tuesday’s meeting with owners and players. York’s players also expressed gratitude that York allowed them to express their individual rights.
Kaepernick’s invitation comes admid a collusion grievance filed under the collective bargaining agreement against NFL owners. The impetus for Kaepernick’s action apparently came after the Titans brought in lesser quarterbacks like Brandon Weedon for workouts recently.
Even though he’s unemployed, Kaepernick continues to make news, including a book deal he signed with Random House for a reported $1 million.
