Eric Reid and the Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins had words ahead of today’s Panthers/Eagles game – the confrontation that may have started during the pregame stretched into player intros as the Eagles offense was being introduced to the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. The Panthers’ safety stood near the 20-yard line staring into a crowd of Eagles’ players until Devin Funchess and secondary coach Richard Rodgers restrained the 26-year old who was signed during the Panthers Week 4 bye after Da’Norris Searcy suffered a concussion and was placed on injured reserve.
The fireworks continued as Reid and Jenkins, the 30-year old safety who is a co-founder of the NFL’s Player’s Coalition and an Eagles captain, appeared to have an animated conversation near midfield as the two teams met for the coin toss; Reid was restrained by multiple teammates, including Torrey Smith, who had stumped for Reid’s addition earlier in the season. Reid then stayed on the field for the opening kickoff, only his third special teams snap of the season after two last week.
#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
Later in the first quarter, Reid again had an altercation with the Eagles after a handoff to running back Josh Adams – Reid darted into the backfield and put a hit on quarterback Carson Wentz. Tight end Zach Ertz took issue with the hit on his quarterback and got into it with Reid; Reid threw Ertz down and both players were assessed with personal fouls for unnecessary roughness.
#Panthers S Eric Reid tackles #Eagles QB Carson Wentz well after he hands off the ball, then pulls a wrestling move on TE Zach Ertz pic.twitter.com/0GNXenOv4D
— Kevin Boilard (@247KevinBoilard) October 21, 2018
Reid continued to stare into the Eagles sidelines throughout the first half during television timeouts – the issues with Jenkins may stem from Jenkins’ involvement with the Players Coalition, which was founded in 2017 by Jenkins and retired wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
“[We’re not] satisfied with the structure of the Coalition or the communication that Malcolm has been having with the NFL on his own, speaking on behalf of protesting players,” Reid said in December of 2017.
“The Players Coalition is an NFL-funded subversion group, so that’s why I removed myself from them and I’ll keep moving forward with Colin,” Reid said in his opening press conference earlier this month when he was signed by the Panthers.
Reid confirmed after the game that he was upset with Jenkins over his action regarding the Players’ Coalition, calling Jenkins a “sell-out” and that the Eagles’ safety’s actions speak louder than his words – Reid believes that Jenkins co-opted the protest movement that was started by Colin Kaepernick to procure funding for the coalition. While Reid made his frustrations with Jenkins clear, Jenkins said after the game that he was relieved that Reid was back in the NFL after spending the first three weeks unsigned.
“You couldn’t pay me to say anything negative about them,” Jenkins said. “I look around the league and I’m proud of guys that are active in their communities, that are using their voice as a platform like never before — including Colin and including Eric. I think he deserves to have a job in this league, I’m glad that he does have one. I think that his talent is speaking for itself. I think his stance is the only reason he was not in the league.”
Eric Reid finished with eight tackles and had a late-game interception overturned while Jenkins led the Eagles in tackles in the 21-17 Panthers win.
