I will keep speaking for my people.
— Eric Reid
Obviously I descend from Africa.
You'd like to think we're past certain things, the way we treat people. I thought we were at a time where you love your neighbor as yourself. But as I've studied history - it hasn't repeated itself necessarily, but it's dressed a little different and is acting the same.
I was taught growing up that you always do what you believe.
The Great Depression, they come out with the New Deal, black people didn't have access to those government stimulus packages. The New Deal set up what is known as the modern-day middle class. We didn't have access to programs - the G.I. Bill, Social Security, home loans - none of that.
I pride myself on being able to get the guys lined up on the team, and being a great teammate and also doing my job.
When I'm on the field, I just do my job.
It's really exciting for me and my brothers to watch the World Cup.
I'm from Louisiana, and I'm used to having space and a yard.
All three of us boys, we grew up playing soccer. It was all of our first love. One of my coaches actually wanted me to try out for the U.S. national team, but I decided to quit to pursue football.
It is paramount that we take control of the story behind our movement, which is that we seek equality for all Americans, no matter their race or gender.
I can't imagine how traumatic it must be to have a gun pointed to your head for no reason at all.
I played a ton of special teams at LSU. I'm familiar with it, I'm comfortable doing it.
I love big hits.
I still bleed purple and gold, so it was a no-brainer for me to go to LSU.
I believe that there are issues in this country - many issues, too many to name. It's not one particular issue. But there are people out there that feel there are injustices being made and happening in our country on a daily basis.
I think our society today, the negativity is at the forefront, so you see all the people that have outrage about this or that.
There's always opposition when you speak on topics like I'm speaking on. But I'm a black man in America. I grew up black in America. You can't tell me that what I've experienced and what I've seen is not true.
It's nice to get comfortable with the plays before the season starts.
I feel like I would be a hypocrite not to use my platform to speak up for people who are facing oppression in this country. I did it and I still do it because I believe it's worth letting people know that if we do this together, if we stand up together we can make change.
There's nothing like being on the field, taking on blocks, chasing after fast guys.
The Players Coalition is an NFL-funded subversion group, so that's why I removed myself from them.
I pride myself on knowing the defense.
I prefer safety. That's what I've played my whole life, but if the team needs me to play linebacker, then I'll do it.
It's funny, you'll probably find me more often watching soccer than a football game, because I get enough football in my daily schedule.
I have a Mercedes, which is a pretty fast car. It's not a Lamborghini.
It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest.
I refuse to be one of those people who watches injustices yet does nothing.
I'm not going to change the way I play.
I think I'm a very versatile player, that's how I was at LSU.
Tackling is my favorite part of the game.
The goal is to talk about the issues that are happening in this country with the ultimate goal of making change.
There are issues in this country that a lot of people feel strongly about.
It's important to discuss the issues that we have in our country.
I think that's something that we as black people in this country have been robbed of. I compare it to my brother's wife, who is Hispanic. She was born in America but her parents are from Honduras. She speaks Spanish. She knows the culture. But most black people, we were robbed of that. We don't know our heritage.
We've got to keep fighting. Got to keep agitating. Got to keep making sure that we put pressure on the people who make the laws, and the decisions, in this country.
I've just always done what I've felt is best, according to what the Bible tells me. That's why I started protesting, and that's what I continue to do every day.
Nothing will change unless you talk about it.
For me, when I make a mistake on the field, it hurts. I usually don't forget it until the same situation comes up and I make it right.
I think I'm a very cerebral player.
Being from Louisiana, I'm very familiar with the heat and what it can do to you if you don't take care of your body.
I expect to work hard, earn the respect of my teammates and hopefully I can start.
I love cars.
We know that racism and white privilege are both very much alive today.
At the end of the day, you're just another person in society. It doesn't matter how much fame you have. It doesn't matter how much money you have.
You'll do anything for your child and that's what I'm doing.
You can't serve God and money.
The game of football has changed for me. It was a personal goal for me at first. But now it's a way to provide for my family. It's a way to provide for my daughter. I'm just ecstatic that I can do that.
It's not easy to do the unpopular thing.
Everybody evaluates their own situation as far as playing this game.
