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Eric Reid: Mike Pence appearance looks like P.R. stunt

By Brandon Knapp

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 07: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the culmination of a faith unity walk, held to help the community heal after Sunday's mass shooting, at Las Vegas City Hall on October 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 1, Stephen Paddock killed at least 58 people and injured more than 450 after he opened fire on a large crowd at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. The massacre is one of the deadliest mass shooting events in U.S. history. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 07: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the culmination of a faith unity walk, held to help the community heal after Sunday's mass shooting, at Las Vegas City Hall on October 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 1, Stephen Paddock killed at least 58 people and injured more than 450 after he opened fire on a large crowd at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival. The massacre is one of the deadliest mass shooting events in U.S. history. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers starting safety Eric Reid criticized Vice President Mike Pence’s appearance in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Sunday was supposed to be about Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. There was a pre-game segment between former teammates Jeff Saturday, Reggie Wayne, and Manning where the three recreated a touchdown one more time in Indianapolis.  Manning had his jersey retired as well.

But that isn’t what was talked about after kick-off. All the talk was about Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence appeared in the stadium in a suite to watch the game in the state he used to be a governor in. During the national anthem, some San Francisco 49ers players kneeled during the anthem. This lead to the VP to leave the game right after.

Pence went to Twitter after the anthem, saying he left the game early because he will not “dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.”

The day wasn’t about Manning and retiring his jersey anymore, now it was all about how the VP left the game.

49ers starting safety Eric Reid, one of the first people to support Colin Kaepernick and his movement, had some comments after the game.

Via Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation, as transcribed by Pro Football Talk:

"My honest reaction … Does anybody know the last time he’s been to a football game? With that being said, he tweeted out a three-year old photo of him at a Colts game so with the information I have the last time he was at a Colts game was three years ago. So this looks like a PR stunt to me. He knew our team has had the most players protest. He knew that we were probably going to do it again. This is what systemic oppression looks like. A man with power comes to the game, tweets a couple of things out and leaves the game with an attempt to thwart our efforts. Based on the information I have, that’s the assumption I’ve made."

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The Colts would end up beating the 49ers 26-23 in a close game that the VP could have enjoyed if he stayed.