"The Things That I've Done, I Stand By": 49ers Eric Reid Is 'Fine' If Anthem Protests Cost Him

Colin Kaepernick has had a whirlwind 2017, but despite the numerous honors he has won for standing his ground by taking a knee during the national anthem, he is still left without an NFL team to call his own. (For now..)

Despite seeing his previous teammate locked out by the NFL, 49ers strong safety, Eric Reid continues to kneel for his beliefs, just as he did right beside Kaepernick in 2016.

Eric Reid was the first player to join then-teammate Colin Kaepernick in protesting the national anthem, and he has continued that protest during the anthem throughout the 2017 season.

Reid will become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason, and he knows his protesting could affect him -- but he isn't worried. 

When asked by ESPN if he was 'concerned' that his decision to kneel alongside Kaepernick and then continue said protest throughout this year would hurt his free agent prospects, Reid had this to say,  "I would say I understand that's a possibility. And I'm completely fine with it. The things that I've done, I stand by, and I've done that for my own personal beliefs. Like I said, I'm fine with whatever outcome happens because of that." 

Reid has made it clear that he fully understands the possibility that teams may ignore or shun him for protest-related reasons and the safety continues to stand firm on his beliefs! We see you, E.

Reid is quoted stating, "There are probably teams that won't want to talk to me because of it. I'm hopeful that I will be on a team next year, but if not, again, that's OK with me."

Reid went on to say in an article with the New York Times, "It baffles me that our protest is still being misconstrued as disrespectful to the country, flag and military personnel. We chose it because it’s exactly the opposite. It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest."

While 2017 was more filled with conversations about the act of players kneeling versus the actual protests and the reasons BEHIND the kneeling, let's all hope 2018 brings a wind of change that involves the addressing of the issue behind the protest and NFL players not being locked out and punished for their right to peacefully protest an issue that has been plaguing our country far too long.