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Jay-Z defends his NFL deal: 'I think we have moved past kneeling' Daniel RobertsSenior Writer Yahoo FinanceAugust 15, 2019 Jay-Z partners with NFL for entertainment and s…

Jay-Z defends his NFL deal: 'I think we have moved past kneeling'

Senior Writer

Yahoo FinanceAugust 15, 2019

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday that he and rapper Jay-Z expected some criticism of their new partnership.

And that is what they are getting. Especially Jay-Z.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jay-z-partners-nfl-music-190427301.html">signed an extensive partnership with the NFL</a> as “live music entertainment strategist.” As part of the deal, Jay-Z and Roc Nation will have a say on music performances including the Super Bowl halftime show, and will help guide the NFL’s social activism campaign “Inspire Change,” which it launched earlier this year." data-reactid="17" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Jay-Z’s entertainment company Roc Nation, home to a record label and a sports agency, signed an extensive partnership with the NFL as “live music entertainment strategist.” As part of the deal, Jay-Z and Roc Nation will have a say on music performances including the Super Bowl halftime show, and will help guide the NFL’s social activism campaign “Inspire Change,” which it launched earlier this year.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/sports/nfl-jay-z.html"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">New York Times </a>published one day before the official press conference, Jay-Z said, “The NFL has a great big platform, and it has to be all-inclusive. They were willing to do some things, to make some changes, that we can do some good.”" data-reactid="18" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">In a pre-interview with the New York Times published one day before the official press conference, Jay-Z said, “The NFL has a great big platform, and it has to be all-inclusive. They were willing to do some things, to make some changes, that we can do some good.”

He was pushed further during a Q&A at the Wednesday press conference at Roc Nation headquarters in New York—specifically on the issue of Colin Kaepernick.

Jay-Z had publicly voiced support for Kaepernick’s social justice protests, and bragged in a new song last year, “I said no to the Super Bowl // you need me, I don’t need you.” His influence reportedly led other artists like Rihanna to turn down a Super Bowl performance as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL6UcZA0MLk"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Hot97 debated </a>whether Jay-Z is “selling out.” Former ESPN host <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sportscenter-anchor-jemele-hill-espn... Hill</a>, now writing for The Atlantic, accuses Jay-Z of helping the NFL <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/jay-z-helps-nfl-b...; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">“banish”</a> Kaepernick." data-reactid="21" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Now athletes and cultural figures are questioning how Jay-Z can align himself with the league that blackballed Kaepernick. New York rap station Hot97 debated whether Jay-Z is “selling out.” Former ESPN host Jemele Hill, now writing for The Atlantic, accuses Jay-Z of helping the NFL “banish” Kaepernick.

Jay-Z said at the press conference that he sees “two parts of protesting. You go outside and you protest; and then the company or the individual says, ‘I hear you. What do we do next?’ I think we have moved past kneeling. I think it's time for action.” He added, “We forget that Colin's whole thing was to bring attention to social injustice. In that case, this is a success. This is the next phase.”

https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-images/2019-08/58982db0-bf5e-11e9-a7ef-2a74c45263f5" data-reactid="27" />

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and Jay-Z appear at a news conference at ROC Nation on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, in New York. A day after Jay-Z announced that his Roc Nation company was partnering with the NFL, the rap icon explained that he still supports protesting, kneeling and NFL player Colin Kaepernick, but he's also interested in working with the league to make substantial changes. (Ben Hider/AP Images for NFL)

https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/27/us/jay-z-colin-kaepernick-cnntv/index.html"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CNN interview with Van Jones in January 2018</a>. The rapper praised Kaepernick, but also dismissed the idea that he should be trying to get a quarterback job. “Would you rather be playing football, getting your head dinged in,” Jay-Z said. “Or would you rather be an iconic figure for the rest of your life? We confuse the idea of having a job with fulfilling your purpose.”" data-reactid="34" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">The comment matches the tone that Jay-Z struck in a CNN interview with Van Jones in January 2018. The rapper praised Kaepernick, but also dismissed the idea that he should be trying to get a quarterback job. “Would you rather be playing football, getting your head dinged in,” Jay-Z said. “Or would you rather be an iconic figure for the rest of your life? We confuse the idea of having a job with fulfilling your purpose.”

Eric Reid, the NFL safety who was first to kneel alongside Kaepernick, his San Francisco 49ers teammate at the time, and now plays for the Carolina Panthers, isn’t buying it.

https://twitter.com/E_Reid35/status/1161805390251737093"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">tweeted</a> about Jay-Z, “It looks like your goal was to make millions and millions of dollars by assisting the NFL in burying Colin’s career. In a <a href="https://twitter.com/E_Reid35/status/1162047971388723200"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">followup tweet</a>, he added, “Jay-Z doesn’t need the NFL’s help 2 address social injustices. It was a money move 4 him & his music business. The NFL gets 2 hide behind his black face 2 try to cover up blackballing Colin.”" data-reactid="36" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Reid tweeted about Jay-Z, “It looks like your goal was to make millions and millions of dollars by assisting the NFL in burying Colin’s career. In a followup tweet, he added, “Jay-Z doesn’t need the NFL’s help 2 address social injustices. It was a money move 4 him & his music business. The NFL gets 2 hide behind his black face 2 try to cover up blackballing Colin.”

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-nfl-ratings-came-roaring-back-184845917.html">NFL ratings rebounded last season</a>, up an average 5% according to Nielsen and the NFL. The current preseason is underway now." data-reactid="37" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">After two seasons of TV ratings declines amid the Kaepernick protests, NFL ratings rebounded last season, up an average 5% according to Nielsen and the NFL. The current preseason is underway now.

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https://twitter.com/readDanwrite"; rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>readDanwrite</strong></a><strong>.</strong>" data-reactid="39" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em;">Daniel Roberts is the sports business writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @readDanwrite.