Jay-Z may have had a hand in arranging Colin Kaepernick's upcoming NFL workout.
On Wednesday (November 13), NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport spoke of Jay's alleged involvement in the setting up the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback's Saturday (November 16) private workout, saying, “I am also told that JAY-Z, who has been working with the NFL on some social justice initiatives, was involved in this and pushed this idea to some extent."
News of the Roc Nation exec's possible involvement came nearly three months after he signed a heavily criticized deal to become the NFL's live music entertainment strategist. Many voiced their disapproval of Jay's surprise partnership with the controversial football league given the NFL's alleged blackballing of Kaepernick, who Jay was seemingly friends with until he signed the deal behind the athlete-turned-activist's back.
However, Jay's alleged "push" for Kap's upcoming try-out has some thinking that the business mogul is trying to make peace.
Kaepernick announced on Tuesday that the football league reached out to him for a workout in Atlanta. "I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday," he tweeted. "I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday."
According to ESPN, the NFL sent a memo on Tuesday to all of its 32 teams, saying the session will include on-field work and interview time with the athlete. The workout will reportedly take place at an undisclosed location in Atlanta. However, it will be closed to the media. For clubs that don't attend in person, they will have access to videos of both the workout and the interview. Per the memo, several NFL teams inquired about Kaepernick's "football readiness" and desire to return to the league.
It should be noted that Kap's reps reportedly asked for the workout to be on a Tuesday, which is typically when all NFL workouts take place because head coaches and general managers can more easily attend since "almost half of the NFL teams" will be traveling for their Sunday/Monday games. However, the league didn't budge, ESPN reports.