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Reid calls Jay-Z's rumored quest to own NFL team 'despicable'

Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid reacted unfavorably Friday to a report that the NFL's newest partner, Jay-Z, could become part-owner of a franchise in the near future.

"Jay-Z claimed to be a supporter of Colin (Kaepernick), wore his jersey, told people not to perform at the Super Bowl because of the treatment that the NFL did to Colin, and now he's gonna be a part-owner - it's kind of despicable," he said after the Panthers' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills, courtesy of The Athletic's Joe Person.

Reid, Kaepernick's strongest supporter, voiced disapproval earlier in the week when Jay-Z and the NFL announced their partnership, which contains activism and entertainment elements. Jay-Z reportedly spoke to Kaepernick before going public with the deal but didn't seek his approval.

"For Jay-Z to come in and partner to address social justice, do it behind Colin's back, get paid to do it, and now he has a stake in an NFL team, it's just - I don't have words," Reid said, via Vashti Hurt of Carolina Blitz.

The rumor of Jay-Z's ownership quest came Friday from TMZ, which reported that the rap mogul will acquire "significant ownership interest" in a team soon.

It's unclear if Jay-Z would be allowed to have equity in a franchise while owning Roc Nation Sports, an agency that represents several NFL players. He was forced to sell his piece of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets in 2013 when launching Roc Nation's sports division to prevent a conflict of interest.

Reid appeared particularly upset with a comment from Jay-Z that implored players to turn their attention from kneeling to activism.

"When has Jay-Z ever taken a knee, to come out and tell us that we're past kneeling?" he said, courtesy of Panthers reporter Ashley Holder. "Yes, he's done a lot of great work, a lot of great social justice work. But for you to get paid to go into an NFL press conference to say that we're past kneeling? Again, asinine. Players Coalition 2.0: He got paid to take the bullets that he's taking now, cause we not having it."

Kaepernick, the first player to kneel for the national anthem to protest social injustice, hasn't played in the NFL since 2016.

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