DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Jets QB Geno Smith picks Jay-Z's agency as new rep

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — 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.''

Jets coach Rex Ryan also brushed off any thoughts that he and the organization might have some concern about a second-round pick signing with perhaps the biggest rap star in the world.

``I don't worry about it, no, I don't,'' Ryan said. ``This is the young man's decision, and I'm sure he's done a lot of work and preparation on hiring who he thinks is the best person to represent him. I don't think there's going to be a loss of focus or anything else. I can tell you this right now: He knows that he has to focus on the job at hand here and I'm confident that'll happen.

``I don't even think about who he hired.''

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.



http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20130522/Jets-Smith-Jay-Z/

How hard can it be to be an agent? Wait until some contracts are done around yours and then copy and paste. I'm glad we didn't draft Geno Smith. I wouldn't give up next years 3rd round pick we got for our 4th round pick this year for him.

J/C

I facepalmed when I heard Skylar Diggins signed him, and I just did it again.

j/c

Geno Smith will end up being more trouble/maintenance than he's worth. He appears to have a very high opinion of himself and seems very selfish ... while this may not be the case, it certainly appears to be. And perception is often reality.

He is also going to be thrown in the starting role, being not ready and not prepared is my guess. With a dysfunctional organization like NYJ.

Media whore Ryan stated he was "disappointed" in Sanchez for some OTA interceptions he threw. So looks like the pressure and the odds and piling against Geno.

New York media is going to tear him apart and break him down and I'm not sure the kid has the maturity level yet to deal with it...

I'm glad we didn't sign Dee Milliner, either. He seems to fit right in with the Jets, too.

After firing Impact Sports on May 10, New York Jets rookie cornerback Dee Milliner now has a new agency.

Milliner, who was projected by many pundits to be a top-five pick, dismissed Impact Sports and lead agent Tony Fleming after falling to ninth in the 2013 NFL Draft.


Link

No doubt, and I was actually pimping him hard...

Not only his attitude, but we can get by with Joe on the #1 and the rest of secondary being a little less weaker if our front seven can apply the pressure that I believe is going to happen. Rushing/attacking front will make almost any secondary look a lot better than what truly is IMO.

Who were the guys that KW2 hired as agents?

The first thing I thought when I saw her fired his agent was that I was glad we drafted Mingo. He was upset about going top 5, so I can assume he wouldn't have been happy at being drafted by us at 6. Some of these guys are incredible with over-evaluation of their talent. I'm not saying I don't think Milliner will not be good, but, come on. They have yet to play one down in the NFL......

The Postons.

They need to get that guy Hillis used. That guy has his act together.

Wow what a coincidence...Jets take 2 guys who fell - both fire their agents as well cause they are dissatisfied at the slot they eventually was taken. Like its negotiable by the agents...lol

Very Bengal type moves if you ask me...at least Bengals of the past. They always would take the criminals or bad behavior guys that others would pass n drop to them. Burfict could be one that might make it??? Few do.

These two dropped for different reasons. But for legit reasons never the less.

From what I'm hearing in NY its Sanchez job...He has to LOSE it more so than Geno Winning it. Almost the same here with Weeden vs Campbell in the "Competition".

JMHO