Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid’s pregame feud with Malcolm Jenkins on Sunday extended to the postgame, when he called the Eagles safety a “sellout.”
Reid and Jenkins have been battling off the field since late last season, when Jenkins, who cofounded the Players Coalition, stopped kneeling during the national anthem after the NFL announced it would donate $100 million to causes considered important to the coalition.
The battle boiled over onto the field before and during Carolina’s 21-17 victory in which the Panthers rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter.
#Eagles Malcolm Jenkins and #Panthers Eric Reid had confrontation after the coin toss before the game started.
Reid had major concerns with Malcolm Jenkins' Players Coalition that raised nearly $100 million to causes considered important to African-American communities. pic.twitter.com/qBsfDr4yLi
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 21, 2018
After the game, Reid said Jenkins “capitalized on the situation.” Reid, the first player to join Kaepernick in kneeling when both played for the San Francisco 49ers, added, “He co-opted with the movement that was started by Colin to get his organization started. It was cowardly. He sold us out.”
Eric Reid calls Malcolm Jenkins a sellout for how he handled things relating to Colin Kaepernick. pic.twitter.com/guqghCmvdA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 21, 2018
Both Reid and Kaepernick filed a collusion grievance against the NFL earlier this year, when no team would sign them. Reid landed with Carolina late last month after starting free safety Da’Norris Searcy was placed on injured reserve after suffering his second concussion in a month.
Kaepernick tweeted his support after the game.
Eric Reid!!! Enough said!!! @E_Reid35 #ImWithReid
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) October 21, 2018
Jenkins did not get into a war of words with Reid over what happened Sunday.
“I respect him, I’m glad he has a job, I’m glad he’s back in the league, and I’ll leave it like that.”
Smith, who does a lot of work with the coalition, disagreed that Jenkins is a “sellout.” Despite helping defuse the situation on the field, he stayed out of the controversy after the game.
The NFL is all about that controversy.