This weekend, the NFL hosted a private workout session to showcase Colin Kaepernick’s polished skills on the field to increase the possibility that he’d join the league again. The work out was reportedly backed by Jay-Z, but Kaepernick’s last-minute cancellation has allegedly rubbed the mogul the wrong way. In fact, according to a source close to the arrangement, Jay thinks Kaepernick turned a “legitimate workout” into a publicity stunt and is disappointed at the outcome.
The original workout was scheduled for Kaepernick to showcase his talent in front of NFL scouts at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. However, Kaepernick’s reps released a statement prior to the event, stating Kaepernick took issue with “an unusual liability waiver that addresses employment-related issues” requested by the NFL. Kaepernick also wanted media to present the entire session.
25 teams were scheduled to be at the NFL-hosted workout, but only eight were in attendance for Kaepernick’s last-minute session, according to agent Jeff Nalley.
The NFL said it had reps from all 32 teams at their own sanctioned workout and released its own statement about Kaepernick’s involvement. They say Kaepernick didn’t tell them about wanting the event to be open to all media until the night before the workout. The league also claims that Nike requested to shoot an ad with Kap and name all of the NFL teams in attendance, with Kaepernick’s approval, and the request was approved.
Jay has been vocal in support of Kaepernick since the end of the 2016 NFL season when the star quarterback went unsigned for his protests against police brutality and racial injustice. But Jay’s support was recently called into question when the NFL and Jay-Z went into a partnership that allows him to help manage entertainment ventures, including the Super Bowl halftime show, and help maintain the league’s community activism efforts. But Jay-Z reportedly had been working behind the scenes to help influence the NFL to set up Saturday’s workout for Kaepernick.
