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2018 Coli Rookie of the Year
Ever since starting safety Da'Norris Searcy was placed on Injured Reserve at the end of last week, the Panthers have needed another player at the position. Former first-round pick and Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, meanwhile, has needed a new team ever since parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers.
On the surface, it seems that the Panthers' needs and Reid's needs both intersect. However, that doesn't necessarily guarantee that the two parties are in each other's futures.
After a brief practice session on Tuesday, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera held court with the media, and was asked about the prospect of signing another safety - specifically, Reid. Rivera, for his part, did not state whether or not Reid was a player that they had a direct interest in.
"There are a lot of names that come out and you are going to discuss what you feel your primary needs are," said Rivera, according to Max Henson of the Panthers. "We’ve looked at what we have on such short notice. We felt very comfortable about the way our guys played."
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Rivera also noted that one of their practice squad safeties, Dezmen Southward, could easily make the transition to the active roster given his familiarity with the defensive system. Southward was re-signed to the practice squad on Monday after the promotion of cornerback Josh Hawkins to the active roster cleared a spot on the squad.
In the Panthers' locker room, Reid has an advocate in wide receiver Torrey Smith, who was teammates with Reid for two years on the 49ers. Given his Pro Bowl pedigree and the need for defensive backs around the league, Reid's being out of football so far in 2018 is puzzling on the surface - unless you ask Smith.
"I think we all know why he hasn’t received a call," said Smith, according to Person.
Indeed, the issue with Reid is not with his on-field production: It's the fact that he has more or less hitched his wagon to former 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick and was one of the first players to join in on Kaepernick's protests during the national anthem. Like Kaepernick, Reid has filed a legal grievance against the National Football League, accusing the league's owners of blackballing him out of a job due to his not standing for the national anthem
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, Smith went on to state that he believes the Panthers could use a player like Reid considering the injuries they have suffered at the safety position, and will be willing to answer any questions that the Panthers' front office may have about him.
In 2017, Reid had 67 combined tackles with four passes defended and two interceptions
Panthers address idea of possibly signing Eric Reid
On the surface, it seems that the Panthers' needs and Reid's needs both intersect. However, that doesn't necessarily guarantee that the two parties are in each other's futures.
After a brief practice session on Tuesday, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera held court with the media, and was asked about the prospect of signing another safety - specifically, Reid. Rivera, for his part, did not state whether or not Reid was a player that they had a direct interest in.
"There are a lot of names that come out and you are going to discuss what you feel your primary needs are," said Rivera, according to Max Henson of the Panthers. "We’ve looked at what we have on such short notice. We felt very comfortable about the way our guys played."
According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Rivera also noted that one of their practice squad safeties, Dezmen Southward, could easily make the transition to the active roster given his familiarity with the defensive system. Southward was re-signed to the practice squad on Monday after the promotion of cornerback Josh Hawkins to the active roster cleared a spot on the squad.
In the Panthers' locker room, Reid has an advocate in wide receiver Torrey Smith, who was teammates with Reid for two years on the 49ers. Given his Pro Bowl pedigree and the need for defensive backs around the league, Reid's being out of football so far in 2018 is puzzling on the surface - unless you ask Smith.
"I think we all know why he hasn’t received a call," said Smith, according to Person.
Indeed, the issue with Reid is not with his on-field production: It's the fact that he has more or less hitched his wagon to former 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick and was one of the first players to join in on Kaepernick's protests during the national anthem. Like Kaepernick, Reid has filed a legal grievance against the National Football League, accusing the league's owners of blackballing him out of a job due to his not standing for the national anthem
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, Smith went on to state that he believes the Panthers could use a player like Reid considering the injuries they have suffered at the safety position, and will be willing to answer any questions that the Panthers' front office may have about him.
In 2017, Reid had 67 combined tackles with four passes defended and two interceptions
Panthers address idea of possibly signing Eric Reid
