Packers Miss Out on Eric Reid, Who Signs With Carolina
By TimBackes
The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday afternoon that they signed safety Eric Reid, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers.
Reid became part of the firestorm surrounding player demonstrations during the national anthem. He was, notably, the first player to kneel alongside former teammate (and current exile) Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick responded on Twitter to the news of the signing:
Congrats 2 my brother @e_reid35, all pro safety who should have been signed the 1st day of free agency, who has signed a football contract.
He was the 1ST person 2 kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his family. and communities in need. pic.twitter.com/TsZOaFycYT
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 27, 2018
Reid has been on Packer fans' radars for some time, especially in the wake of the poor (or, at best, inconsistent) play at the safety position out of Kentrell Brice and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to start the 2018 season.
Reid was far and away the most talented safety, and arguably most talented player at any position, available on the free agent market. Just 26 years old, Reid already has a Pro Bowl on his resume, and was the starter for the vast majority of games in his first five years in the league with the 49ers. The 49ers neglected to re-sign him after the 2017 season. He remained unsigned until Thursday.
Most people who cover the NFL agree that Reid would have been a hot commodity on the free agent market had he not been such a crucial piece of the anthem controversy. His signing by the Panthers shows a clear shift in culture on the part of the team since Jerry Richardson sold off the club. Richardson didn't even like his players having tattoos or piercings; there's little chance he ever would have allowed Reid on his club.
In Reid, the Panthers get a talented young player just entering the prime of his career, and likely at a bargain barrel price. He will replace Da'Norris Searcy, who was placed on injured reserve with concussion-like symptoms.
So for now, the Packers will have to hope the play of the safeties currently on their roster improves, or else look into other options. But they won't find a better player than Reid at the position in free agency.
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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.
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Comments (56)
Roadrunner23
September 27, 2018 at 06:39 pm
Whatever......kneeler...
fastmoving
September 28, 2018 at 12:55 am
....yeah nostra...and thats allready enought of a reason to sign him. besides that he is as a footballer even better than as a person.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 29, 2018 at 09:24 pm
And you know that how?
LOL!
Lare
September 27, 2018 at 06:54 pm
Meanwhile, Brice and HHCD will continue to lose games for the Packers. Without a doubt, the worst starting safeties in the NFL.
Apparently, the Packers front office and coaches are fine with that. It may just cost them their jobs.
Bearmeat
September 27, 2018 at 07:14 pm
I honestly hope it does. This is a "go deep in the playoffs or get out" year for MM.
kevgk
September 27, 2018 at 10:18 pm
Oh please, I'm watching two of the best defensive rosters in the league give up huge plays to recievers downfield, backs in the flats, and quarterbacks on the edge. Same problems capers struggled with while having a bunch of scrubs. Wade Phillips can't get his team to seal the edge. The Vikings' linebackers helpless and outmatches against speedy backs and ends. Thats the reality of modern NFL. You have to take risks on young players and can't sign every player out there, and even if you do, your D with the best interior line in the league gives up 30 points to Kirk Cousins behind a terrible oline. Youre holding the Packers' to a standard above other teams. I'm not saying there aren't issues to improve on, but you can't field a perfect team and I'm damn happy that we finally have a good cornerback room, the most important position to have depth on in my opinion.
Bert
September 27, 2018 at 06:57 pm
Who knows? It's possible the Packers checked in with Reid and found him not that interested in coming to GB. I get the feeling Gute is pretty thorough and does his due diligence.
JohnnyLogan
September 27, 2018 at 07:00 pm
Another mistake. Gute signs Breeland which is excellent but passed on Khalil Mack and Eric Reid, two all-pros, in Mack's case likely a Hall of Famer. Just don't get it.
4thand10
September 27, 2018 at 07:36 pm
Packers must have unlimited money and draft picks ( heavy sarcasm)
Doug Niemczynski
September 27, 2018 at 08:13 pm
And then later say were not resigning Clay Matthews! !
JohnnyLogan
September 28, 2018 at 06:48 am
Than why did he go after Mack if he couldn't pay?
dobber
September 28, 2018 at 07:48 am
Do you haggle when you buy a car? Sometimes you're trying to get the price-point right. It wasn't in this case OR the Raiders were never going to give him to the Packers.
Whatever the case, it's time to move on. I think we're destined to see Mack be Gute's Marshawn Lynch/Randy Moss from the perspective of many fans.
Doug Niemczynski
September 28, 2018 at 08:48 pm
I didn't say not to re-sign Matthews. The Packers said they were not going to sign him.
My point is that the Packers needed a pass rusher and passed on K. Mack when they also knew they weren't going to re-sign Matthews, well at least not for the pay he is getting now
Rak43
September 28, 2018 at 12:53 pm
It really isn't that hard Johnny. There is this little thing called a salary cap you have to manage in order to field a competitive roster. Mack signed for 141 million dollars, Aaron Rodgers signed for 134 million. So if you want to invest 275million in 2 players over the next 5 years do you really think your roster is going to be competitive? Or is it possible you think that the Packers only need Mack on defense and AR on offense and that means instant SB? The Bears can pay Mack 141 million because their QB is making 7million a year not 30million like Rodgers.
kevgk
September 27, 2018 at 10:00 pm
I'm glad reid is signed so hopefully armchair GMs can stop clamoring for an oversized box safety on a steady decline for the last few years that could supposedly solve our deep safety problem. Did people forget they moved him to LB to try to save his career, and still cut him?
NickPerry
September 28, 2018 at 04:46 am
"Did people forget they moved him to LB to try to save his career, and still cut him?"
What? Huh?? The 49ers didn't move Reid to LB to save his career, they moved him to LB just like the Cardinals did and really started with Duane Buchanan to be able to match up better against some of these TE's and receiver sets AND are still good enough against the run. That was followed by others like Barron, and even Morgan Burnett. Besides I'm pretty sure Reid was an All Pro at Safety and not LB.
I get why people don't want to sign him, but at no point did his career need saving because of his play on he field!
dobber
September 28, 2018 at 05:00 am
...they moved him to LB when NaVorro Bowman got cut and his replacement got hurt. They moved him back to SS later in the year. I haven't read anything or seen anything that indicated he was moved for lack of performance.
He wasn't cut. His rookie deal (with 5th year option) ran out.
Rak43
September 28, 2018 at 01:08 pm
Not nitpicking but it's Deone Bucannon. :} Although most people probably know who you meant.
Doug Niemczynski
September 28, 2018 at 09:06 pm
This is the same conversation we have every year and where everyone seems to disagree with me. I don't care about how competive we are every year. I don't care if we have a losing seasons every 5 years.
I want a Super Bowl Victory. If the Packers suck every year and people say your team sucks I can say I know, but how many Super Bowls have you won? I should be able to say at least 7!! The most in the NFL. I look at the perspective of today, this second . I look at how can I win a Super Bowl now, today, this second, how can i get it done. Who can help us the absolute most to get a SuperBowl. Well, it was Khalil Mack. You say I'm not gonna pay $272 Million dollars to only 2 players? Well, what happened when 1 guy out of 53 players goes down and that player is Aaron Rogers? Well you say the other 52 guys will win the game, but reality showed us that without that 1 guy Aaron Rogers the whole season goes to pot, but Aaron Rogers makes the coaches look good, the players look good, heck he makes everyone look good, just 1 player. Now add K.MACK to defensive side and you have quite the same effect. Do you think the Ravens years ago would have won without Ray Lewis . The answer is no. So, yes If I was the Packers GM- K.Mack would be wearing #52 and not C. Matthews.
JohnnyLogan
September 28, 2018 at 06:49 am
No sarcasm
ScaryGary
September 27, 2018 at 07:23 pm
lol. all this knee jerk shit cracks me up. only things that matter in title town is the health of rodgers, bahk, and bulaga. should u be concertned if bryan is out for a long time? yes. but lets not act like we fear the bears and the panthers.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
September 27, 2018 at 09:03 pm
I'm soooo concert-ned over this situation! Oh, concertNED!
ScaryGary
September 27, 2018 at 07:24 pm
that alexander can play ball, fyi
ScaryGary
September 27, 2018 at 07:25 pm
i do miss Burnett, ill give ya that
NickPerry
September 28, 2018 at 05:27 am
Really...Have you watched or seen Pittsburgh's pass defense this year?? It's actually WORSE than the Packers.
Doug Niemczynski
September 27, 2018 at 08:11 pm
https://www.chicagobears.com/news/fans-weigh-in-on-khalil-macks-dominance
This could have been Green Bay Fans !
Oppy
September 28, 2018 at 10:17 pm
The Bears are going to the Superbowl, then?
Rossonero
September 27, 2018 at 08:14 pm
While I'm sure the signing of Reid would rile some fans, winning is what cures all in the NFL. I read that Torrey Smith, a former SF teammate now also in Carolina, lobbied hard for Reid.
McCarthy would rather be stubborn, have his way and keep throwing Brice out there when it's painfully obvious that he is not an NFL safety.
MNPackersFan
September 28, 2018 at 12:10 am
McCarthy doesn’t make this decision.
Doug Niemczynski
September 29, 2018 at 06:18 am
My question to you is this. Do you think the Bears would be leading the division right now if Khalil Mack was NOT on the Bears?
4thand1
September 27, 2018 at 08:21 pm
Watching the Rams and queens light it up on offense, against 2 really good defenses. Hope Philbin and MM are watching, maybe they can pick up a few pointers. After Sunday, if our safties stink it up at Lambeau again, Gute will forced to make a move. Are we doing enough to put the best team we can to win?
Irish_Cheesehead
September 27, 2018 at 09:43 pm
And nice to see Sam Shields back on the field. Hope he stays healthy!
Rak43
September 29, 2018 at 02:34 am
Bi Queens gave up 29 to G.B., 27 to Buffalo and their rookie QB and no WR's who you can probably name, and 38 to the Rams. Calling the Queens defense good is a stretch this year as last year doesn't count. The only decent game their defense has played out of 4 games was week 1 against the 49'ers when the Queens held them to 16.
flackcatcher
September 27, 2018 at 08:36 pm
Excuse me for being blunt Tim. But do you read your fellow CHTV writers? I'll make this short(bit grumpy today). The reason Reid got no takers up until now, is he is a slow box(at best)SS in a NFL that has seriously down graded the run. SF released him because he can't cover TE period. Why would the Packers pick up a guy who couldn't on his best days cover the FB out of the backfield. Packers are already starting a player in Brice who at best keeps getting lost in space, and cost the Packers 2 games in this early part of the season. The Breeland signing is all about freeing Williams to play in the backend alright. Packers got enough problems, GUTE knows they don't need another 'old slow' DB back there.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
September 27, 2018 at 09:07 pm
is Reid really that bad in TE coverage?
TimBackes
September 27, 2018 at 09:57 pm
No.
TimBackes
September 27, 2018 at 09:56 pm
"Excuse me for being blunt Tim. But do you read your fellow CHTV writers?"
Absolutely! I'm far from the only one who has called for the Packers to sign Reid. Zach Jacobson and Aaron Nagler have both been prominent supporters of a Reid signing, just off the top of my head.
" Why would the Packers pick up a guy who couldn't on his best days cover the FB out of the backfield."
This is a rather ridiculous take on Reid's skills, and simply not reflective of reality.
flackcatcher
September 28, 2018 at 06:18 am
Sorry if I was a bit rough Tim. But Reid's skills like most SS depended on ILB play. The NFL though it's rule changes wiped that out three years ago. Both Green Bay and Atlanta went to a Big 5 package to deal with the lack of speed. Atlanta got to the Superbowl, Green Bay got wiped out. SF got rid of Reid because he could no longer cover TE (there are no FB left in the league playing in core units UGH). Cover SS are a rare thing in the pass happy NFL. Don't believe me, look at what happened last night on Thursday night football. Sorry Tim, Reid is a step and a half slow DB who can't play in the backend anymore. So where does he play?
sardog
September 27, 2018 at 10:28 pm
Flack...per PFF you are correct on 2017 his CB & SS ratings - in the 13's. Where he excelled was when they moved him to LB -ratings in the 80s. He was moved due a knee problems in 2016 and then again early 2017 season- out weeks 3-6...yes his speed dropped per PFF. He didn't like the move to LB. So we'll see what happens next....
flackcatcher
September 28, 2018 at 06:31 am
sardog, this is the second position group in a year that is being pushed out by the league rules changes. Green Bay was one of the last teams that kept a FB on the roster. They don't have one, replaced by an extra DB (Whitehead I guess cause he can go in the box and has cover skills). I fully expect the H-Back position to go next, and the pure RB position is in danger as the ability to route run out of the backfield is now more important than pure rushing ability. Idiot owners have no idea the monster they have created.
Community Guy
September 27, 2018 at 09:11 pm
maybe the Packers have a lot more talent at safety than we fans have been thinking; however, it sure seems that HaHa has not shown much improvement since, say the NFC Championship in Seattle in January 2015. i feel like this was a real missed opportunity for the Packers to get at least one solid safety. the cost would have been very sustainable for the organization. congrats to the Panthers for their move.
croatpackfan
September 28, 2018 at 04:22 am
Last game, against Washington Ha-Ha played very well. He was where he needs to be when he needs to be. And he did good safety job on others mistakes. There is no player in NFL who can cover whole field on every play.
You, who are trying to say Ha-Ha sucks do not know what his assignments were with each play. Just showing your frustration with what you thought is bad plays.
Anyhow I believe that Ha-Ha is the only one with INT this season on the team and that is 2 INT, or?
CJBauckham
September 28, 2018 at 02:26 pm
Haha's int was nice, but he was taking terrible angles all day at Washington and gave up alot of yac/rushing yards. He may not be able to be all over the field, but it would be nice if when he is in position he'd stop over pursuing and get a tackle without giving up a cutback lane.
Spock
September 29, 2018 at 09:50 am
Croat, I disagree on your assessment of Ha-Ha in the Washington game. I even turned to my wife when he got that interception (where the Washington player didn't finish his route) and said, "Ha-Ha is lucky to get that." because I was screaming at the t.v. screen the play before where Ha-Ha seemed to half jog towards the runner and put out a hand "to get in on the play" while watching his teammates make the tackle. That's not "doing a good job" in my book!
Handsback
September 27, 2018 at 10:20 pm
I guess we'll find out how good Reid is soon enough.
CAG123
September 27, 2018 at 11:51 pm
Okay Reid is a thumper in the box safety! The Pack doesn’t need one of those, they don’t need a Kam Chancellor they need a Earl Thomas or Eric Berry guys that can cover the back of the defense and make plays on the ball. We didn’t miss out on anything.
Doofapotamus
September 28, 2018 at 12:40 am
I, for one, would love to see HHCD moved to Strong Safety and move Williams or Breeland to Free safety to roam the backfield. If HHCD still doesn't perform there, then he doesn't have much business being on the team.
stockholder
September 28, 2018 at 01:19 am
Jones will be back. As of Friday, Biegel is on the saints roster , off PS.
croatpackfan
September 28, 2018 at 04:24 am
Davenport did perfect job for Saints, did he? He was truly worth of next draft 1st pick!
Experts where are you now?
marpag1
September 28, 2018 at 10:16 am
The experts are probably withholding judgment until Davenport's career tackles exceed single digits.
stockholder
September 28, 2018 at 09:43 pm
TT would not have drafted Davenport. Gute needed a cb, and that set up his draft. The trade down worked. Is Davenport Mack? No.
marpag1
September 28, 2018 at 11:27 am
I think many fans underestimate the difficulty of just "shifting" a player from one position to another, even if the positions are a little bit similar, like corner and safety. It's still a different job, different responsibilities, different skills, different reads, different instincts, etc. Sure, it can happen sometimes. But this is the highest level of football on the planet, and players work to hone their positional skills from the time they are in high school. There is absolutely no guarantee that "any ol' corner" can become even a competent backup at safety.
TXCHEESE
September 28, 2018 at 08:43 am
As stated in one of the posts above, we will soon find out just how good Reid is. We need to be cognizant that we're still early in the season, with a new defensive scheme. I'm not a big HHCD fan, but we need to give it a little more time before we make a judgment on the defense.
Right now, the Packers need to find some reinforcement for our D-line. If one of those four guys goes down, they're screwed.
dobber
September 28, 2018 at 09:47 am
In the end, Reid will be playing with better personnel on defense in Carolina than he will in GB. He may look great in that unit...but it might not have translated to GB. There is no transitivity in sports.
"Right now, the Packers need to find some reinforcement for our D-line. If one of those four guys goes down, they're screwed."
They haven't officially put Wilkerson on IR, yet. I suspect it happens on Saturday and that they'll elevate Looney or Lancaster from the PS. I can't imagine they're going to go forward with four DL on Sunday. Perry would likely have to play with his hand on the ground more...but they're already thin on the edge and this would only shift the deficiency from one position group to another.
Doug Niemczynski
September 28, 2018 at 11:55 am
Just wanted to point out we chose to keep Randall Cobb over
#80 Jarvis Landry
Cleveland Browns2018 Record: 1-1-1
Rec RcYd RcTD
20 278 0
/× 100 yards per game.
I'm not saying Gute has not been trying, obviously better than Thompson, but
there have been solid impactful player's
out there that he has failed to sign.
Thoughts?
Doug Niemczynski
September 28, 2018 at 09:12 pm
I think the Packers will come out and win Sunday. It was a humiliating loss mainly because of stupid mistakes, dropped balls etc. I expect or team to come out and kick some Bill Butt !! Go Pack Go !!