Failed quarterback Colin Kaepernick blasted the NFL’s attempt to incorporate social justice messaging into its opening weekend as “propaganda.”
Kaepernick, who began kneeling during the national anthem and was seemingly blackballed by the league afterwards, argued that the NFL’s words and actions won’t mean anything until they allow Eric Reid, one of the top free agents on the market, to sign with a team.
While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) for fighting for the Black community. Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league. https://t.co/KQXTaOCcnU
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 13, 2020
Reid began kneeling with Kaepernick in 2016 when both players played for the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL has spent the past several months trying to appease Kaepernick as protests over “systemic racism” continue to take place across the U.S.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell even apologized to Kaepernick and admitted that the league failed to take action on the social-justice front.
“The first thing I’d say is I wish we had listened earlier, Kap, to what you were kneeling about and what you were trying to bring attention to,” Goodell said in a recent interview, according to Radio.com.
“We had invited him in several times to have the conversation, to have the dialogue,” Goodell continued. “I wish we had the benefit of that. We never did.”
Goodell has also asked Kaepernick to advise the NFL’s diversity council, and has urged various teams in the league to consider signing him.
“Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s gonna take a team to make that decision,” Goodell told ESPN in June. “But I welcome that, support a club making that decision, and encourage them to do that.”
