Stephen A Smith from ESPN and Carolina Panthers Star Eric Reid Have Heated Twitter Debate over Colin Kaepernick's NFL Workout

Sports personality Stephen A. Smith and NFL player Eric Reid have been engaged in a heated back-and-forth since Saturday after former football player/activist Colin Kaepernick held a workout for the NFL.

After three years of the NFL allegedly blackballing Kaepernick over his decision to protest police brutality against people of color by taking a knee during the national anthem, they recently organized a workout.

The event, according to the New York Post, was to include representatives from NFL teams and was set to hold at the Atlanta Falcons' practice facility.

"I've been ready for three years. I've been denied for three years... We are waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams and [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell to stop running."

The workout was billed for Saturday, but hours before the activity, Kaepernick moved the venue to a high school about an hour away. Following the exercise, Smith took to social media with a video criticizing the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s decision.

Smith insinuated that Kaepernick changed the location abruptly because he wanted to exploit the situation for publicity. The ESPN commentator said:

"You see, he don’t want to play. He wants to be a martyr. But guess what? It ain’t working this time… You don’t wanna work; you just wanna make noise and you wanna control the narrative. It’s over; Colin Kaepernick’s aspirations in the NFL."

Reid, Kaepernick’s friend and former teammate who took a knee with him in the past, clapped back at Smith via social media. The Carolina Panthers safety accused Smith of "tap dancing for the NFL."

"[Expletive] straight Colin wants to control the narrative!" Reid continued. "He supposed to trust the organization that blackballed him and has done absolutely nothing in good faith???"

Smith shot back on Instagram, accusing Reid of being hypocritical in criticizing the NFL when he still plays in the league.

"Maybe the enemy is YOU, your childish tendencies, and your unwillingness to accept that you can’t run [expletive] thing but so much when your hand is out for someone else’s dime or product," he argued.

On Sunday, Reid had a response ready for Smith and everyone who he claimed was prancing about "doing the NFL’s bidding to try 2 burry (sic) Colin:"

"I stand 4 truth & justice above all else. You r mistaken by thinking that because u or anybody is black that you are spared from my criticism especially when you’ve been so blatantly on the NFL’s side in corrupting their own process to hinder Colin’s employment."

At this, Smith let off another lengthy tirade, scolding Reid for tweeting at him before a game and reminding him that he went through the same process Kaepernick is expected to go through.

"Kaepernick made a mistake the way he handled all this… IF he really wants a job in the NFL. Period," Smith countered. "And your contribution to all of this doesn’t help. It hurts. It ain’t about you being wrong. It’s about you needing to grow the [expletive] up. Your decision. Your life! Do you!"

According to Fox News, Kaepernick’s controversial workout lasted for about 40 minutes, after which the former player signed autographs for fans.

On his way out, he told reporters:

"I've been ready for three years. I've been denied for three years... We are waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams and [NFL Commissioner] Roger Goodell to stop running."

"Stop running from the truth, stop running from the people," Kaepernick added.