Report: NFLPA Investigating Eric Reid Random Drug-Testing Allegations

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

The National Football League employs a random drug-testing process to try to keep the game clean, but at least one player has doubts as to how "random" the system actually is.

And now the NFL Players Association is stepping in to try to get to the bottom of things.

According to ESPN.com's David Newton, the NFLPA is investigating as to whether the league is targeting Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid, who said he has been tested five times over the course of eight games since signing with the team in September.

Reid, who has been among the players to protest social injustice, filed a collusion case against the league earlier this year. Back in October, an arbitrator denied the veteran defensive back's grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals after the team asked if he would continue kneeling during the national anthem if signed.

"I know what I'm dealing with," Reid said on Wednesday, per Newton. "I have a collusion case against the NFL. This is something that doesn't surprise me from them. It's supposed to be random. It's obviously not. I'm not surprised about it. Even though it seems crazy on the outside looking in, and it is, I'm not surprised."

Overall, Reid said he has been tested six times since signing with Carolina back on Sept. 27. One of those tests, though, was part of the signing process.

The former Pro Bowler made it clear that he isn't worried about possibly failing a drug test, but he is still annoyed by the frequency in which he has been subjected to a test, citing the extremely long odds in play:

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"I know I've done nothing wrong, so I'm not concerned that my drug tests will come back ... that I'll fail that test.

"But the system is lying, much like what I'm protesting. It's supposed to be a random system. I've been looking at math statistics trying to talk to people. I think it's like a 1 percent chance that somebody gets tested this much. Statistically, big problem."

This is not the first time Reid has called out the NFL for what he believes is a not-so-random system. Earlier this month, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy refuted Reid's accusations by explaining the process:

Less than three weeks later, though, Reid was once again tested.

He added, per Newton: "I'm not losing any sleep over it, but it should be talked about. It's wrong."

The drug testing is not the only way in which Reid has felt targeted by the league this year, either. Reid felt he wrongly had an interception overturned in Week 7 and was later controversially ejected for a hit on a sliding Ben Roethlisberger in Week 10. When asked if he felt his collusion grievance was influencing the way he was being officiated, he called the matter "interesting," per Newton.