JAY-Z’s partnership with the NFL sparked backlash earlier this year, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes Hov’s alliance with the league is why Colin Kaepernick is getting an opportunity to work out for teams.
After Kaepernick confirmed he’ll have a NFL-organized workout in Atlanta on Saturday (November 16), Smith speculated JAY-Z’s been making moves out of the public eye to facilitate Kap’s return to football.
“To me the name that comes to my mind is JAY-Z,” the sports pundit said. “Why? Because JAY-Z meets with Commissioner Roger Goodell. At that particular moment in time, he’s excoriated. All of a sudden, Hov, who everybody loved, a whole buncha folks turned against him, accusing him of selling out, turning in his black card and all of this ridiculous nonsense. And what did he say? He said listen, folks are gonna work behind the scenes.”
Smith continued, “[He] called the NFL office, called the Players Association, spoke to a whole bunch of people. Clearly there appears to be a collective effort that has taken place to include these teams with league participation and league approval, obviously. So, it appears to be something very, very serious and the only thing that can get in the way of Colin Kaepernick being back in the NFL is if he refuses to shut up and/or he goes out there and shows that he can’t play.”
Kaepernick has been out of the NFL for the past three seasons, becoming a free agent in 2017. The league is widely believed to have blackballed the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback for starting the national anthem protests, which saw him and other players kneeling while “The Star-Spangled Banner” played before games.
JAY-Z announced a partnership with the NFL in August. As part of the deal, Roc Nation became the league’s “live music entertainment strategist” and got involved in the NFL’s social justice initiative Inspire Change.
On Wednesday (November 13), NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport said Hov had “some influence” in Kaepernick’s workout.
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I credit jay z too, for the sham of a workout. They gave Kaepernick virtually no advance warning and more than likely no team is the least bit interested. What else do you expect the man who sold out his business partners, his race (were past kneeling) and even his wife.
Professional hatter ?? God bless your heart bro lol…try to find some peace and love with yourself ?
He actually is a professional “hatter”. I buy all my hats from Yup. The man is an artist! Why you being a hater?
1. Hater is spelled with one L. 2. I wholeheartedly reject that righteous criticism is “hating”. Despite what you silly silly stans might think, right is right and wrong is wrong. Ripping off your business partners is wrong. Selling out a protest movement for money is wrong. Most of all cheating on your wife is wrong.
Lmao fam, Kaep stated that the League Office sent his people a four day notice, which he claimed he’s been ready for (for over a couple of years). And yea, the guy will show up to workout, with absolutely no teams being interested? Lmao I see why celebrities are hesitant to go out of their way to help certain causes. Has Jay done everything he said he was going to do, yes or no? Always have folks like you who move the goalposts.
Colin does not want to get re-employed by the NFL. He’s making money and gaining clout by being a martyr for the cause. He and his girl blew up his chance with the Ravens on purpose. Wake up people this is a sham.
This is too deep for the people who are brainwashed by what they see and hear on TV and social media. Good eye. Jay can relate “Politics as usualll”
Yeah, meanwhile the NFL is looking to pretty much make this tryout a PR move. They aren’t letting Colin know what teams are available, gave him and the NFL teams short notice….this is all BS