Eric Reid, a recently signed safety of Carolina Panthers, has entered into a pre-game confrontation with Malcolm Jenkins, a Philadelphia Eagles safety.
According to USA Today, both players have reignited their disagreement towards strategies on social injustice initiatives. The pre-game coin toss reportedly took place on Sunday and the media caught Reid addressing Jenkins, who also stepped up to the former. This scenario happened several times and some members of the team have to stop Reid and usher him to the Carolina sideline.
As per the earlier mentioned source, Reid remains upset at Jenkins even after the game began. He lingered close to Eagle sideline and appeared staring down to Jenkins after one play early in the first quarter. After the Panthers' 21-17 behind victory, Reid called Jenkins two things: a sellout and a neo-colonialist.
"We believe a lot of players should've stepped up for Colin (Kaepernick). I believe Malcolm capitalized on the situation. He co-opted the movement that was started by Colin to get his organization funded. It's cowardly. He sold us out," says Reid.
On the other hand, Jenkins has declined to criticize Reid. He explained how he would never get up and say something negative about another black man, most especially to someone he knows has a real intention in helping the community. "I'm going to leave it there," Jenkins concluded.
Jenkins also expresses his respect to his fellow and that he is glad Reid has his job back in the league. Panthers' receiver, Torrey Smith, was a former of Eagles last season and also one of Jenkins' teammate. He was one of the players who stepped in and hold Reid back during the pre-game altercations.
Meanwhile, NFL players Reid and Jenkins are both known for being vocal, pushing criminal justice reform and being against social inequality and police brutality. Reid said in early October during the introductory news conference with Panthers, that the Players' Coalition was an NFL funded subversion group. Unfortunately, he later left the group, where Jenkins is one of the co-founders due to a difference in philosophy.
NFL and the Players Coalition agreed to a partnership last May as the league reportedly pledged to provide over $90 million. This is to support the causes championed by the coalition.
In May, the Players Coalition and the NFL agreed to a partnership in which the league pledges to provide at least $90 million to support causes championed by the coalition.
