Now a free agent, NFL kneeler has change of heart: ‘Went from kneeling on one knee to kneeling on both’

Free agent NFL player Eric Reid is learning real quick that there are consequences for one’s action… particularly when you become a lightning rod for controversy.

Reid is also proving that he’s not eager to follow the path of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who he teamed with as members of the San Francisco 49ers — not only on the field, but on the sidelines.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Reid was quick to kneel alongside Kaepernick when he began his show of disrespect for the national anthem to protest alleged racism and police brutality, and continued the practice after Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers and no team picked him up, rendering him an ex-player.

But that was when Reid had a secure paycheck.

As a free agent, the player has not received a single contract offer after being on the market for more than a week, ESPN reported, “despite a record of strong play on the field and versatility that many teams usually covet.”

Reid told the left-of-center sports network this week he will no longer kneel during the national anthem.

Getty colin kaepernick kneel
(Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

“I’m not saying I’m going to stop being active because I won’t,” he insisted. “I’m just going to consider different ways to be active — different ways to bring awareness to the issues of this country and improve on the issues happening in this country.”

Just in a little quieter fashion.

“I don’t think it will be in the form of protesting during the anthem,” Reid added. “I say ‘during’ because it’s crazy that the narrative changed to we were ‘protesting the anthem,’ and that wasn’t the case.”

While Reid says he stands by his actions, at the end of the day he wants to get paid. And he doesn’t think his radical political activism should be a deterrent.

“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. If you think is, then your mindset is part of the problem too,” Reid tweeted last week.

Of course, Kaepernick probably felt the same way and we saw how that worked out for him. After all, why would an NFL owner want to sign a player who’s likely going to offend and alienate a large portion of their fan base.

The news didn’t play out too well for Reid online, with one social media user noting, “He went from kneeling on one knee to both.”

Here’s a sampling of other reactions from Twitter:

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