Stephen A. Smith Says He Helped Kaepernick Get NFL Exercise

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was a visitor on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, and revealed he and others have been working behind the scenes to safe a tryout for blackballed quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

In a large ranging interview with the 2 NBA champions Smith talks about an encounter with Kaep’s girlfriend, famous character Nessa, the place she asks Smith for his assistance on getting Kaep a tryout. 

Smith goes on to say it wasn’t simply Jay-Z and Roc Nation, however he and “a slew of different reporters who will stay anonymous” have been working the suitable channels behind-the-scenes in an effort to get Kaep an NFL exercise. 

Associated: Stephen A. Smith And Eric Reid Spar Over Colin Kaepernick Exercise

Smith does acknowledge the NFL may have completed plenty of issues in a different way relating to the exercise and its transparency. Saying it was, “a bit of shaky.” He additionally believes that any emotions of distrust from Kaep’s camp in the direction of the NFL ought to’ve been anticipated. 

“Not solely do you not belief them, you sued them,” Smith mentioned of Kaep’s relationship with the NFL. “You filed a grievance in opposition to them. You settled! You settled. Who information a grievance in opposition to an organization, settles, after which nonetheless says, ‘I desire a job with you?’” 

Of Jay-Z’s function within the exercise Smith does give the hip-hop mogul credit score for not wavering, regardless of half of the NFL’s house owners not desirous to sanction the tryout. 

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“I occur to know that JAY-Z and Roc Nation was main the decision behind-the-scenes, working with the NFL,” Smith mentioned. “Half the house owners didn’t need to do it. They actually mentioned, ‘Bump them.’” 

“We bought the rankings again. Of us are strolling by means of the turnstiles. We good. And never solely that, we bought 4 prime league MVP candidates, and all of them are black quarterbacks,” Smith continued. The 4 doubtless MVP candidates Smith referred to are Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Pat Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson. “We don’t want him. We ain’t need to do all this. And I used to be advised, ‘JAY-Z was like, ‘Oh hell no, sure you do…I want you to be sure to give this brother a possibility.’”

Associated: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Says ‘We have Moved On’ From Colin Kaepernick

It’s necessary to notice that Smith is ESPN’s most seen and extremely paid expertise. ESPN is a broadcast accomplice of the NFL’s. That’s to not say Smith is telling lies, however you’ll be able to query whether or not or not he’s a dependable narrator. 

All that being mentioned, it’s protected to imagine the NFL want to transfer on from the Kaep state of affairs, as evidenced by commissioner Roger Goodell’s quote at this week’s league conferences. 

The legitimacy of the NFL organized exercise and Smith’s claims that Kaep would obtain a job inside two weeks of mentioned exercise don’t matter an entire lot now. 

The total interview is under. Smith begins speaking about Kaep on the 53 minute mark.