Colin Kaepernick made enemies in high places after his latest PR stunt. According to Complex.com, music mogul Jay-Z is “disappointed” that Kaepernick moved the location of his much-hyped workout in Atlanta on Saturday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Jay-Z, the NFL’s social justice consultant, arranged the workout to get critics off Jay-Z’s back.
According to Complex, “a source close to the situation” informed them that Jay-Z is “disappointed” that Kaepernick turned his workout into a publicity stunt.
Kaepernick, 32, arrived in Atlanta on Thursday to prepare for his big workout at the Atlanta Falcons’ training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. He last played in the NFL three years ago when he opted out of a contract with the 49ers.
All went well until three hours before the start of the private workout, when Kaepernick’s camp informed the NFL that the workout was moved to Drew High School in Riverdale, Ga, about 60 miles away. The news media was invited to attend.
Kaepernick showed up at the school wearing a black t-shirt with “KUNTA KINTE” on the front. Kunta Kinte is a character in the critically acclaimed television series, Roots, based on the 1976 novel by American author Alex Haley.
The NFL abruptly announced that Kaepernick was “no-show” at the workout. The league said 25 teams attended the workout. But only eight teams showed up at the high school to watch the moved workout.
Kaepernick’s people responded, saying the NFL asked the unemployed quarterback to sign a “liability waiver” that protects the league from further legal action.
Kaepernick, right, and Eric Reid, left, settled a grievance against the NFL and team owners for blacklisted him after he led protests by kneeling during the National Anthem.
The reaction from the sports world was swift, with many saying Kaepernick was finished. ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said Kaepernick doesn’t want to play in the NFL. He “wants to be a martyr.”
In a video, Smith said:
“This man wanted a chance. Twenty-five teams show up in Georgia at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility—state of the art facility, NFL personnel, equipment, video, everything, and what does Colin Kaepernick do? Because of some issue with a liability waiver, Colin Kaepernick wants to change the venue. You don’t want to work. You just want to make noise and you want to control the narrative.”
He doesn't want to play. pic.twitter.com/ZuSI1IVW9r
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 17, 2019
