NFL settles collusion cases of Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid

With a public hearing looming and the threat of owners and league officials facing depositions, the NFL settled collusion cases brought by Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid.

The league, about to celebrate its 100th season, faced criticism from all sides thanks to the protest movement started by Kaepernick. Many Kaepernick supporters wanted to see him back on the field, while other fans said they wouldn't watch if the league allowed players to protest during the national anthem.

The league and Kaepernick's lawyer sent out statements Friday saying that "the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances" and that a confidentiality agreement would prevent either side from commenting further.

It remains unclear if the NFL admitted wrongdoing or how much money Reid, Kaepernick or others may have received. Considering the lost salary both players claimed and legal costs, the settlement could have climbed into the tens of millions of dollars.

"For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL," the league statement said. "As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party."

Kaepernick's lawyer Mark Geragos tweeted a similar statement .

The protests slowed down this season, as the NFL made contributions to organizations chosen by players and promised more attention to social justice issues. But the controversy reignited every time there was a development in the case. A hearing was scheduled for later this month.

Kaepernick reportedly turned down a chance to join the fledgling Alliance of American Football, seeking $20 million or more from the upstart league that pays its players $225,000 over three seasons.

Reid recently re-signed with the Panthers for three years and more than $22 million. He noted then that he got "fair market value" after making just $1.69 million last season.

A federal judge says the 6-year-old daughter of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez missed a 2014 deadline to opt out of the $1 billion concussion settlement and can't separately sue the league over his diagnosis of a degenerative brain disease.

Yet Hernandez's death in 2017 came too late for his family to seek compensation for suicides related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy under the class action settlement.

Hernandez spent three years with the Patriots before his 2013 arrest on the first of three homicide charges. He never returned to the NFL.

Hernandez killed himself in prison. Doctors after his death found the 27-year-old Hernandez had advanced CTE.

• The Bills released underperforming and high-priced veteran tight end Charles Clay.Clay had one season left on a five-year contract, and was due to make a $4.5 million base salary. Clay's production dropped off considerably last year. In 13 games, the eighth-year player finished with 21 catches for 184 yards and no touchdowns, which were all lows during his four seasons in Buffalo. Overall, Clay had 339 catches for 1,822 yards and nine touchdowns in 54 games with the Bills.

• The Broncos told Brandon Marshall that they don't plan to pick up the linebacker's option. Marshall, who was due $6.5 million next season with a cap hit of about $9 million, has been limited to 11 games because of injuries in two of the past three seasons.

• The Detroit Lions have released Glover Quin, cutting ties with the 33-year-old safety who had one year left on his contract .