Eric Reid, the former 49ers Pro Bowl safety who took a knee to join Colin Kaepernick in protest against social injustices, was surprisingly released Wednesday by the Carolina Panthers.
Reid’s release comes nearly a year after he signed a three-year, $22 million extension with Carolina, which continues its purging as it rebuilds under new coach Matt Ruhle. The Panthers, who are also set to trade or release franchise quarterback Cam Newton, will incur a $5 million hit in dead money toward their salary cap by releasing Reid, who was set to earn $8 million in 2020.
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Reid felt his outspoken support of Kaepernick, including taking a knee alongside him during the national anthem, played a role in his trouble finding a new team after leaving the 49ers at the end of the 2017 season.