Eric Reid Calls The NFL’s Use Of Colin Kaepernick’s Image ‘Diabolical’

On his Twitter Monday, former NFL safety and social justice advocate Eric Reid slammed the NFL and Roger Goodell‘s social justice measures that they have implemented for the NFL season, calling them “half-hearted” and “diabolical.”

“1/2 What the @NFL is doing is half-hearted at best.@nflcommish has gotten comfortable saying he “was wrong” as if his mere acknowledgment reconciles his admitted wrongdoing. He hasn’t even called Colin to apologize, let alone reconcile, proving this is only PR for the current.” he continued, “2/2 business climate. As such, Roger Goodell uses video of Colin courageously kneeling to legitimize their disingenuous PR while simultaneously perpetuating systemic oppression, that the video he’s using fights against, by continuing to rob Colin of his career. It’s diabolical.”

This is a part of what seems to be general dissatisfaction from players with the NFL’s social justice measures. Colin Kaepernick criticized the league last week, and the Miami Dolphins choosing to stay in their locker room for their week one game against the New England Patriots as a form of protest.

It will be interesting to see where all of this anger leads, the most notable example of players enacting change so far was the NBA’s holdouts that spurred on a bigger commitment from league executives and owners to encourage social change. So far, NFL executives and owners have made no such promises, and there may come a time when they have to put their money where their mouth is so as not to alienate their players.