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SPORTS Saturday 16 February 2019
Kaepernick, Eric Reid settle

collusion grievances with NFL

By BARRY WILNER statement . A wave of protests by NFL
AP Pro Football Writer The protests slowed down players began in 2016 after
NEW YORK (AP) — With a this season, as the NFL Kaepernick kneeled during
public hearing looming made contributions to or- the national anthem to call
and the threat of owners ganizations chosen by attention to police brutality
and league officials facing players and promised more and racial inequality. The
depositions, the NFL settled attention to social justice protests grew into one of
collusion cases brought by issues. But the controversy the most polarizing issues in
Colin Kaepernick and Eric reignited every time there sports, with President Don- In this Sept. 12, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric
Reid. was a development in the ald Trump loudly urging the Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during
the national anthem before an NFL football game against the
The league, about to cel- case. league to suspend or fire Los Angeles Rams, in Santa Clara, Calif.
ebrate its 100th season, A hearing was scheduled players who demonstrate Associated Press
faced criticism from all for later this month. during "The Star-Spangled
sides thanks to the pro- Kaepernick and Reid Banner."
test movement started by filed collusion grievances While he has been away
Kaepernick. Many Kaepe- against the league, say- from the playing field,
rnick supporters wanted ing they were blacklisted Kaepernick has become
to see him back on the because of protests dur- an advocate for battling
field, while other fans said ing the national anthem at social and racial injustice.
they wouldn't watch if the games. Kaepernick has not On Thursday, a person with
league allowed players to played in the league since knowledge of the conver-
protest during the national 2016, while Reid missed sations told the AP that
anthem. three games last season Kaepernick turned down
The league and Kaeper- before signing with Caro- a chance to join the fledg-
nick's lawyer sent out state- lina. Kaepernick contend- ling Alliance of American
ments Friday saying that ed the owners violated Football , seeking $20 mil-
"the parties have decided their collective bargaining lion or more from the up-
to resolve the pending agreement with players by start league that pays its
grievances" and that a conspiring to keep him off players $225,000 over three
confidentiality agreement teams. seasons.
would prevent either side While the players seemed Safety Reid recently re-
from commenting further. intent on pursuing the cas- signed with the Panthers for
It remains unclear if the es, the league might not three years and more than
NFL admitted wrongdo- have been eager for those $22 million. He noted then
ing or how much money deposed — including Com- that he got "fair market val-
Reid, Kaepernick or others missioner Roger Goodell ue" after making just $1.69
may have received. Con- and several owners and million last season from the
sidering the lost salary both league executives — to ap- Panthers.
players claimed and legal pear. Still, for the players to "If anything, it proves my
costs, the settlement could prove collusion is a mighty point from last year," Reid
have climbed into the tens challenge because, ac- said. "I didn't sign until the
of millions of dollars. cording to the 2011 labor (fourth) week and did for al-
"For the past several agreement between the most the league minimum.
months, counsel for Mr. union and league, a "club, And this year I signed a
Kaepernick and Mr. Reid its employees or agents" more substantial contract.
have engaged in an on- must have "entered into an And nothing has changed.
going dialogue with repre- agreement" to limit con- I'm still the same player."
sentatives of the NFL," the tract offers. Officials with the players
league statement said. "As Kaepernick filed his griev- union said Friday afternoon
a result of those discussions, ance in August 2017. Arbi- that they had just learned
the parties have decided trator Stephen B. Burbank of the settlement and had
to resolve the pending sent it to trial, denying the no details.
grievances. The resolution league's request to throw "We continuously support-
of this matter is subject to a out the former 49ers quar- ed Colin and Eric from the
confidentiality agreement terback's claims. Burbank's start of their protests, par-
so there will be no further decision meant there was ticipated with their lawyers
comment by any party." enough evidence of collu- throughout their legal pro-
Kaepernick's lawyer Mark sion to keep the grievances ceedings and were pre-
Geragos tweeted a similar going. pared to participate in the
upcoming trial in pursuit of
both truth and justice for
what we believe the NFL
and its clubs did to them,"
the NFLPA said in state-
ment. "We are glad that
Eric has earned a job and a
new contract, we continue
to hope that Colin gets his
opportunity as well."q