Eric Reid's return to the NFL created a buzz around the league on Thursday David Njoku Jersey , six months after he filed a grievance alleging collusion by the NFL to prevent teams from signing him because of his participation in racial injustice protests during the national anthem alongside former San Francisco 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick.Some NFL players were excited about the 2013 Pro Bowl safety signing a one-year deal with the Panthers, but were quick to point out they believe Kaepernick should be back in the league as well.Kaepernick congratulated his Reid on Twitter , saying Reid "should have been signed the 1st day of free agency. ... He was the 1ST person 2 kneel alongside me. Eric is a social justice warrior, continues to support his family and communities in need."Browns running back Carlos Hyde, who played with Reid and Kaepernick in San Francisco, was stunned to hear his former teammate had been picked up by the Panthers."For real?" Hyde said following Cleveland's practice. "I'm so happy for him. It's been too long. I kind of felt like they was doing him the same way they were doing Kap, so it's good to see E-Reid got signed and Kap should definitely be up next. It would be a real good thing then."Said Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett, "It's about time."As for Reid, who filed his grievance in May, he was mum during the hoopla on Thursday, declining comment through the Panthers and not weighing in on social media except to re-tweet Kaepernick.The 26-year-old Reid said in March that he doesn't plan to protest during the national anthem this season. The Panthers have a bye this week and next play at home on Oct. 7 against the New York Giants.Kaepernick, who filed his grievance in October 2017 and remains a free agent, began protesting racial and social injustice during the 2016 preseason by kneeling during the national anthem. Reid later joined the quarterback. After that other players around the league joined in Myles Garrett Jersey White , much to the displeasure of President Trump, who Tweeted at players to "Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!"That sparked a polarizing political debate that divided some NFL fans.Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills knelt during this year's season opener against the Titans."I'm just happy for (Reid), excited to see him get out there on the field and be the impact player we all know he is," Stills said Thursday. "Obviously I feel like he should have been signed the first day of free agency."Stills said he spoke to Kaepernick, his close friend, on Thursday."He wants to play. He's good enough to play. He deserves to play," Stills said. "I don't see why a team won't sign him, or hasn't signed him."The decision by the Panthers to sign Reid comes less than three months after David Tepper bought the team from conservative owner Jerry Richardson.Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said he wasn't concerned about Reid's past protests, telling The Associated Press it was a "football decision" — and one that was approved by Tepper."Every decision we make we communicate with" Tepper, the GM said. "Everybody we sign we ask if he has the skill set, does he fit into our system, and if he can help us win football games — and we feel the answer is yes."Eric Reid's younger brother, Justin Womens Denzel Ward Jersey , who plays safety for the Texans, said he is "immensely proud" of what his older brother stands for "in trying to have a voice for the voiceless."When asked if he believes his brother was not signed earlier by NFL teams because of his decision to protest, Justin Reid said "I'm going to try and defer away from that."Reid is expected to start right away after the Panthers placed starter Da'Norris Searcy on injured reserve last week with a concussion. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Reid played the first five seasons of his NFL career with San Francisco after the 49ers selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has started 69 games."He's a physical safety with good ball skills and he makes plays and he has experience," Hurney said. "He's a young player with skins on the wall. He has played at a very high level."Forty Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh confirmed Thursday they inquired about signing Reed this week after injuries to Jaquiski Tartt and Adrian Colbert."E-Reid is familiar with our system and we know him, are comfortable with him," Saleh said. "Obviously, it didn't work out, but any time you have the opportunity you explore it."AP Sports Writers Tom Withers in Cleveland, Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia, Steven Wine in Miami, Josh Dubow in San Francisco, Charles Odum in Atlanta and Associated Press writer Jordan Godwin in Houston contributed to this report. Robinson made himself a good amount of money with his performance in Cleveland last year."How and When He Joined the Browns: The Browns signed Robinson last June to a veteran minimum contract of $790 Womens David Njoku Jersey ,000. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2014 had been traded to the Detroit Lions in 2017, but finished the year on injured reserve with them. With the retirement of LT Joe Thomas, Robinson likely saw Cleveland as being an opportunity where he could content for a starting job.Productivity Level Last Season: In training camp, the Browns were positioning Joel Bitonio to move to left tackle, with rookie Austin Corbett at left guard and Robinson being a versatile backup. Instead, Hue Jackson made the bold (and dumb) last-minute decision to make undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison his starting left tackle. At the half-way point of the season, Harrison came down with an illness that would keep him out of Week 9’s game against the Chiefs. That’s when Robinson was called into action.Robinson performed quite well, and then QB Baker Mayfield was a big vocal advocate of the job he did protecting him. It just became “assumed” from then on out that Robinson had surpassed Harrison as the team’s starting left tackle for the rest of the year. From a performance perspective, Robinson exceeded expectations big time. Here are some PFF-highlighted stats from his 2018 season:The big issue for Robinson was the number of penalties he would incur.Why Keeping Him Could Make Sense: Cleveland spent all of last offseason trying to figure out how to replace LT Joe Thomas. They didn’t need “the next Joe Thomas,” but they needed someone serviceable. For as athletic as Harrison was touted to be, he wasn’t nearly consistent enough to be counted on. Robinson showed an ability to be an above average tackle. And, most importantly, he just worked with the pairing of QB Baker Mayfield and then-offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. Why use a big investment on a left tackle in the draft or free agency when Robinson Womens Odell Beckham Jersey , who is still just 26 years old, could be that left tackle of the future? Even Joe Thomas thinks he could be that guy!What the Browns Should Do: It has been reported that GM John Dorsey has already been in discussions with Robinson about an extension, and he wants to return as well. This is where it gets very tricky, though. Think back to last offseason: the Browns paid OT Chris Hubbard a 5-year, $36.5 million deal based on 10 good games he had for the Steelers at right tackle the previous year. In essence, we now have the same situation with Robinson, except we’re talking about a former No. 2 overall pick.I actually think that Cleveland could use Hubbard’s contract as a model for Robinson. Hubbard is entering year two of his deal, but if Cleveland feels he wasn’t worth it, they’ll only carry $3.2 million in dead cap for him this year and be done with him. That’s because those base salaries in the later years are put at a higher value: the player needs to perform well in order to be kept around that long. Cleveland can get the discount of Robinson wanting to play with a Mayfield and a winning team, so I will project a 4-year, $25 million deal with $8 million guaranteed for Robinson, which is similar to what Alejandro Villanueva is getting from the Steelers.Let us know below whether or not the team should try to re-sign Greg Robinson!