Roc Nation, the sports agency recently started by rapper Jay-Z, was among the five agencies vying to represent New York Jets second-round pick Geno Smith, according to a report from Pro Football Talk:
Jay-Z’s agency reportedly wooing Geno Smith
The rap mogul and agency owner is chasing the new Jets quarterback.
Chris Hondros
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Smith has wrapped up two days of meetings with potential successors to Select Sports Group, the agency Smith hired after completing his college career at West Virginia. Making presentations were Joel Segal, Rick Smith of Priority Sports, Eugene Parker, Fletcher Smith, and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation agency.
Smith, who was considered a potential top pick in April’s NFL Draft, fired his agents after falling into the second round and enduring a frustrating and embarrassing night in the Draft’s green room. As the potential quarterback of the Jets, he has become a hot free agent for sports agencies.
Most believed that the actual agency work at Roc Nation would come from CAA, which partnered with the rapper on the venture, but the pitch to Smith actually came from an agent employed by Roc Nation. As NFL.com points out, Jay-Z is not a licensed agent and, under NFLPA rules, cannot directly participate in talks or promote an agent to any player. There remains considerable doubt whether the NFLPA will attempt to enforce that rule against Jay-Z, however.
Smith is scheduled to attend Jets rookie minicamp next week, and a decision is not expected in the coming days.
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