Report: Bengals owner questioned Reid about anthem protests during visit

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown initiated a discussion with Eric Reid about national anthem protests during his free-agent visit to the team Monday, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Brown explained he intends to prohibit kneeling during the anthem and asked Reid for his response, which he wasn't willing to give on the spot. Florio described Reid as being "caught off guard by the line of questioning."

The 26-year-old was the first player to protest alongside Colin Kaepernick - who also remains unemployed - in 2017 and the only known interest he's received this offseason is from the Bengals.

While he previously stated he wouldn't kneel during the 2018 campaign as he focuses on social improvement through community work, he wasn't willing to do so as a command from Brown.

Florio added that Reid "developed a clear sense" that the coaches were interested in signing him while reviewing film, but that head coach Marvin Lewis asked him if he wanted to "clarify anything that Reid told ownership regarding the anthem" later in the meeting.

Reid again refused. The Bengals have yet to offer him a contract.

Cincinnati has been criticized in year's past for overlooking off-field issues of several players, such as Adam Jones and Joe Mixon.

The Bengals told Florio they don't comment on interviews the team considers "confidential."