Geno Smith Rapping His Way To a Stadium Near You

[Chiefnj2]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Geno Smith has joined Jay-Z for one big sports and hip-hop collaboration.

The New York Jets rookie quarterback has chosen the rap artist’s new Roc Nation Sports to represent him. Smith, who slipped out of the first round last month and fell to the Jets in the second round at No. 39 overall, fired his agents — Select Sports — shortly after the NFL draft.


The former West Virginia star met with a handful of agents before announcing Wednesday that he had chosen Jay-Z’s agency, which is partnered with Creative Artists Agency. Smith insisted after practice that Jay-Z didn’t play “that big of a role” in his final decision — although the quarterback recently tweeted a photo of him with the hip-hop star.

“I think it’s just his agency,” Smith said. “When you talk about being in New York from a standpoint of what they can do in the city, the connections that they have, I think it’s a good move. My mother and my family were comfortable with it, and I’m comfortable with it. I’m just going to move on from there. It’s not going to be a big deal.

“I’ll just remain humble and keep focusing on football.”

Kimberly Miale, recently hired by Jay-Z, whose given name is Shawn Carter, will serve as Smith’s contract agent. Smith will be Miale’s first NFL client.

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and former Notre Dame star Skylar Diggins, drafted No. 3 overall by the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock, have also recently signed with Roc Nation.

Smith, who is competing with Mark Sanchez among others for the team’s starting job, said the decision to go with Jay-Z is not an indication that he’s focused on his image and marketing opportunities — as speculated by some.

“It’s not that important to me, honestly,” Smith said. “The only thing that’s important to me is the image that’s perceived around this locker room, the guy I am to my teammates, to my coaches and the work I put in on the football field. I’m all about football.

“I’m all about getting better.”

Smith is not the first NFL player to sign with a hip-hop mogul. New Orleans Saints running back Ricky Williams hired rapper Master P’s No Limit Sports agency to negotiate his rookie deal, which is largely regarded as one of the game’s worst contracts because it included a minimum base salary and incentives that were difficult to reach. Williams later fired the agency and hired Leigh Steinberg to represent him.

[Pitt Gorilla]

What could possibly go wrong? ~Ricky Williams

[alpha_omega]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

The two contracts that Sanchez signed where huge deals.

for his next contract is what i was referring to.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by DoucheMcCloud

But personally, I'd have hired Tom Condon.

On that note, it would be interesting to find out just how hard Condon pushed to get Geno as a client. His reputation as an agent speaks for itself, so it's hard to understand why Geno wouldn't have signed with him.

[Reaper16]

Don't compare this venture from Jay-Z to the No Limit bullshit. This is a serious business venture. No Limit Sports Management still has their website up on the internet. The agent is an insane fraud. Look at this: http://www.angelfire.com/mo/nolimitp...mitsports.html

Roc Nation Sports will be 1,000 times more professional.

[Thig Lyfe]

My name's Geno Smith and I'm here to say
I like to rap in an underrated way

[Skull-FU]

Risky move by Jay-Z. Odds are that he can only profit with advertising. Especially since the first contract is basically predetermined. If Geno craps his pants, Jay-Z loses big time. It looks like his agency now lives and dies with Geno as he only has a couple of clients. I wouldn't have done it if I were him. You got a quarterback who chokes under pressure playing in the big apple. Even if the Jets were a good team I wouldn't have done it but, I guess it's not like it's Jay-Z's only venture.

Skull **** You

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Bowser

On that note, it would be interesting to find out just how hard Condon pushed to get Geno as a client. His reputation as an agent speaks for itself, so it's hard to understand why Geno wouldn't have signed with him.

Condon's outfit is part of CAA now, as well, so I can only speculate. But I'd imagine that Carter convinced him that he'd have the same full-service backing of CAA with him as he would with Condon, but that Carter could market him better in urban areas.

Again, only speculation.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by patteeu

There appears to be more than a little LJ in Geno.

Because... he chose a relatively new agency to represent him?

Let me know when Geno signs an endorsement deal with Jay-Z's clothing line where he has to make their logo a part of all his TD celebrations.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by SNR

Because... he chose a relatively new agency to represent him?

Let me know when Geno signs an endorsement deal with Jay-Z's clothing line where he has to make their logo a part of all his TD celebrations.

I think you're getting way ahead of yourself here.

[Rasputin]

This gives Geno Smith street cred in New York.

[houstonwhodat]

Oh great.

Thug city.

Geno's ****ing up already.

He'll end up like Vince Young if he doesn't watch his ass.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by houstonwhodat

Oh great.

Thug city.

Geno's ****ing up already.

He'll end up like Vince Young if he doesn't watch his ass.

Wow.

[Thig Lyfe]

Originally Posted by houstonwhodat

Oh great.

Thug city.

Geno's ****ing up already.

He'll end up like Vince Young if he doesn't watch his ass.

COOL POST DUDE

BUT CAN U PLZ POST BOOBY PIX INSTEAD

[houstonwhodat]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Wow.

If I had to choose a rapper to do biz with I think Diddy might be better.

Then again what the hell do I know.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by houstonwhodat

If I had to choose a rapper to do biz with I think Diddy might be better.

Then again what the hell do I know.

Diddy does happen to be the one rapper with a greater net worth than Jay-Z. Diddy doesn't have a sports management company though. But it doesn't sound like Geno picked Roc Nation to represent him because of Jay-Z, but rather because this new agency was aggressively pursuing the next QB of a New York NFL franchise.