Arbitrator denies Eric Reid's grievance against Bengals

Arbitrator Shyam Das has rejected a grievance the NFLPA filed on behalf of Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid.

During the summer, Reid visited the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent. The Bengals asked Reid whether he planned to continue kneeling during the national anthem, as he'd been doing to protest police brutality and racial inequality. Reid left the meeting without a contract and the NFLPA filed a grievance on his behalf, arguing that Cincinnati didn't sign him because of his answer and thus violated the CBA by putting a precondition on his employment.

Das decided the Bengals had the right to ask Reid that question.

The NFLPA released a statement Tuesday acknowledging Reid's claim was denied and expressed disappointment "especially since the arbitrator affirms the facts which our filing was based upon and provides no in-depth analysis of why management can engage in behavior that violates fair hiring practices."

The Carolina Panthers signed Reid in September and he's continued to kneel during the national anthem. During Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid clashed with safety Malcolm Jenkins and later blasted Jenkins for the decisions he made on behalf of the Players Coalition.

Reid is still awaiting the results of a separate collusion grievance against the NFL.

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