“An extension of the fields,” Following Damar Hamlin’s horrific injury Ed Reed compares NFL with slavery, calls for guaranteed contracts for the players
Ed Reed seemingly compares NFL, yet still admits that he would do it again.
Follow Us
(Images via USA Today and Sports Illustrated)
The Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during the Bengals-Bills matchup in week 17 of the NFL regular season. This incident has brought out many opinions from many people about the physical game of football. In that trend, former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed has called out the league for treating players like s**t and seemingly compared the NFL with slavery.
The former Miami Hurricanes HC recently visited Bethune-Cookman University to negotiate the deal to be the next head coach there. During this visit, Reed was asked about Damar’s life-threatening injury and the league in general, and Ed Reed called for guaranteed contracts in the NFL. “I’ve been saying they need to put guarantees in the contracts because you can die playing this sport,” said Reed about the league.
The nine-time Pro Bowler also called out the league for treating players poorly. “Our sport (has) been the worst sport and everybody knowing that our contracts still not guaranteed and we still get treated like sh*t, for lack of better words. It’s the truth. People know,” said Reed about the National Football League.
Related: “It breaks my heart,” Derek Carr bids adieu to the Raiders in a heartfelt letter after nine seasons
Ed Reed compares NFL to slavery in wake of Damar Hamlin’s injury
Ed Reed went on to say that the league is run by the owners and not the players and purportedly compared the NFL with slavery. “You know our league is ran by owners. We know that, We know it’s not a players-led league. We know the truth. Everybody know the truth and the truth is who runs it and why it’s ran that way, it’s still the fields. It’s still an extension of the fields,” said Reed.
And yet, Reed said he has no regrets about playing in the sport and would do it again because that was one of his ways out as an African-American man. But he needs to have a guaranteed contract to play the sport. “Because the way the world is set up, that was one of my ways out as a young African American man and it still is and I’d do it again. But I need to have it in the contracts that you could die and your insurance and all that is covered,” said Reed.
Damar Hamlin, who has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, played on his rookie deal with the Bills this season, which is not guaranteed. Furthermore, his contract has typical stipulations that lower his wages if he is placed on Injured Reserve. However, the NFL, NFLPA, and Buffalo Bills have finalized an arrangement in which Hamlin will be paid completely.
Do follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Related: Tom Brady going through with Miami mansion plan despite Gisele Bündchen split
Stay Updated!
Aravind Raj
(2075 Articles Published)