49ers DB Eric Reid, After Consulting with Colin Kaepernick, Decides to Kneel During Anthem

Despite repeated claims that he was going to stop his protests during the playing of the national anthem, San Francisco 49ers defensive back Eric Reid decided to reverse course and took a knee during the song as this weekend’s game started.

Last season, the 49ers strong safety joined Colin Kaepernick to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem. But, at the close of the 2016 season, Reid claimed he would stand to honor the anthem and would continue to do so throughout the 2017 season. Reid also confirmed that he would stick with his decision to stand despite the recent unrest in Charlottesville.

Despite all that, though, once it came to game time, Reid decided to take a knee during the anthem as the 49ers prepared to face the Vikings on Sunday.

After the game, Reid told the media he had a “change of heart,” according to NBC Sports.

Reid also claimed he consulted out-of-work quarterback Colin Kaepernick about what he should do:

A lot of thinking. A lot of praying. Talking to Colin. When we started last year, if you recall, we said our goal was to raise awareness and shed light on the issues that were happening in our country. I think we accomplished that goal. What I was upset about was the narrative, the false narrative, that were being told about us, people saying that we’re un-American, that we’re against police entirely and the military. That just wasn’t true. At first I thought that was a small sacrifice to pay to get the word out and raise awareness. I settled with thinking raising that awareness was victory.

Then fast forward to Charlottesville and the country sees what an un- American protest really looks like. That’s when I had my change of heart. Because what Colin, Eli and I did was a peaceful protest fueled by faith in God to help make our country a better place. I feel I needed to regain control of that narrative and not let people say that what we’re doing is un-American, because it’s not. It’s completely American. We’re doing it because we want equality for everybody. We want our country to be a better place. So that’s why I decided to resume the protest.

Reid said he has decided to continue his protest for the whole of the 2017 season. The 2013 Pro Bowler also claimed his protest was based on his “faith in God.”

“That’s the only reason I do it. You can’t serve God and money,” he said. “So if I’m not on the team next year, I’ll be at home unhappy that I’m not on the team, but I’ll be satisfied knowing that I did what I believed was right, and that’s being a voice for the voiceless and standing up for the oppressed.”

Reid joins the Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Bennett, the Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch, as well as a large number of Cleveland Browns players in launching anti-American protests this preseason.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.