Eric Reid, the San Francisco 49ers safety who has knelt during the national anthem at games for the past two seasons, filed a grievance against the N.F.L., saying the league had blackballed him because of his actions.
Reid’s move mirrors that of the former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who led a wave of sideline protests against social injustice and police brutality against African Americans and filed a grievance last season after being unable to land an N.F.L. job.
Like Kaepernick’s, Reid’s case would be heard by an arbitrator. The taking of depositions is underway in Kaepernick’s case.