Eric Reid nailed tight end Ben Watson with a late hit during Thursday’s preseason game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers. The timing of the play has greater significance given the context of their opposing viewpoints.
First, here’s a look at the hit from Reid, which happened after the Patriots tight end was already down following a catch late in the first quarter.
Ben Watson leaves the field under his own power but did have his helmet taken from him. The late hit provided by Eric Reid. The two men not seeing eye to eye on Twitter this week fwiw. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/VKJK6X2U9e
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 23, 2019
Reid was flagged for a late hit on the play.
What’s notable is that Reid and Watson have been involved in a dispute.
Reid has stood with his ex-49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick since the quarterback began kneeling in the 2016 season. The two were even part of a collusion lawsuit against the NFL that they later settled. Reid has been critical of anyone working with the NFL in the name of improving social justice matters. He called out the Players Coalition, which is a group of current and former players working with the league to improve communities and social issues. Watson issued a response on Twitter in which he disagreed with Reid and said “we need each other”.
Quote starts with “"I could be completely wrong, but since…”
Yes @E_Reid35 you are wrong! You know the work many of us including @MalcolmJenkins have done. No one entity owns this movement. We are all a continuation of the generations who fought before us. We need each other https://t.co/C154KIvD1X
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) August 18, 2019
Whether or not their opposing political viewpoints had a role in Reid’s late hit on Watson is up for you to decide.
