Update - I went out and gave the cranks a few spins while I watched things. One of the chain links was tight and binding. Is this common? I haven't had the chain for long. I went for the SRAM instead of a stock Shimano because Sheldon Brown's site seemed to be pro-SRAM.

I used my Park chain tool to push on the pin a little. It made a pop, and freed things up. But, the outer plate seemed to bend out a little in the process and the pin was no longer sticking out a little like the rest. I tried to push the pin back in to position from the other side, but the tool didn't seem to work very well. I ended up using channel locks to carefully bend the plate back.

I'm nervous that the link will fail on a ride. Do SRAM chains require a special tool? I noticed in the directions that came with the chain that the diagrams show a chain tool with long handles. My Park tool looks like a mini vice or clamp.