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Jay-Z is one of the most accomplished rappers, and businesspeople, in the world. With an estimated net worth of over a billion dollars, HOVA just continues to expand his empire, making deals left and right that only adds more digits to his bank account. His latest? The much-scrutinized partnership with the NFL, with Jay-Z forming a social justice relationship with the league, which has been blasted by a number of people since.
One of the most outspoken people about the NFL-Jay-Z partnership has been Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, who responded to Jay’s comment about moving “past kneeling,” with the NFL player saying, “he’s not a NFL player. He’s never been on a knee,” as well as the below, per UPROXX:
“I’m going to try to give this man the benefit of the doubt for now, but it doesn’t sit right with me. It’s not something I agree with or respect.”
While Stills continues to comment about the rapper’s partnership with the NFL, his head coach, Brian Flores, decided to blast eight-straight Jay-Z songs at practice. Naturally, there was a method behind the madness, with Flores explaining the tactic during his postgame press conference the other day, adding that he supports his player, but wanted to “challenge” him.
Per UPROXX:
“What you don’t know is that I walked up to Kenny in front of the entire group and said, ‘This is a challenge to you to get open, catch the football and make plays for this team regardless of what’s going on.’
“I got up in front of the team and I told them that I support Kenny. I support Kenny. I support the player protests. Quite honestly, they’re bringing attention to my story. So, let’s talk about that. I’m the son of immigrants. I’m black. I grew up poor. I grew up in New York during the stop-and-frisk era. I’ve been stopped because I fit a description before. So everything that these guys protests, I’ve lived it. I experienced it. I applaud those guys who protest. Whether it’s [Colin] Kaepernick or Eric Reid or Kenny, I applaud those guys. I told Kenny that in our meeting in front of the entire team.
“I don’t know how many people have, but I lived it. So I understand why guys protest. And it’s important. And you know what else is important to me? There’s 89 guys in that locker room who are counting on Kenny to get open, catch the football and perform for this team. That’s important to me. And if anybody’s got a problem with that, then we’ve just got a problem. We’re going to agree to disagree. I feel like that’s important, and that’s where I stand on this thing.”
It’s clear that the Dolphins don’t want this to be a bigger distraction than it already is, which is something Stills also mentioned.
Per ESPN:
“It’s just music,” said Stills, adding that he doesn’t want this to be any more of a distraction than it already is.
The rest of the Dolphins’ locker room seems to be taking it in stride, even ribbing Stills about it.
Considering there’s nothing Stills, or any other player, can do about the Jay-Z partnership at this point, Stills is right to accept it and move on, while still standing by what he believes in. And, if Flores can get the best out of him by challenging him by blasting a bunch of the rapper’s songs at practice, so be it.