Jay-Z Under Investigation: Was NY Jets Rookie Geno Smith Recruited Improperly?

Jay-Z is being investigated by the NFL for his involvement in recruiting NFL rookie Geno Smith according to TMZ. The "Glory" rapper is reportedly representing Smith who was drafted by the New York Jets. Jay-Z is being accused of violating the "runners rule" which is a rule prohibiting the use of "runners", "people without appropriate credentials used by agencies to recruit clients."

According to TMZ, when Smith was recruited by Roc Nation Sports, led by Jay-Z, the athlete was allegedly in contact with the hip-hop mogul which was supported by an Instagram photo. Jay-Z's camp claims the rapper was in London at the time of Smith's recruitment but does not clarify the date of the photo. Smith's advisor was quoted confirming Jay-Z's presence at a meeting but later recanted his story and claimed he was misquoted.

Although bribery is not involved, it has been speculated that Jay-Z's celebrity is appealing to prospective clients who are influenced by being associated with the rapper turned agent.

"This new runner rule isn't difficult to enforce, it's impossible. This is another rule that won't be enforced by the NFLPA, because they don't have a mechanism by which to do it. Agents are going to continue to have arm's-length recruiting relationships with non-certified individuals. The only thing that is going to change is that agents are going to be even more careful in the way they recruit, and who they trust in their inner circle than they were before. People who violate the rules are just going to do it more clandestinely now," said Josh Lucas, a former football agent and author of Illegal Procedure: A Sports Agent Comes Clean On The DIrty Business Of College Football.

The investigation is on going. No reports of what the rapper faces if his involvement is deemed unacceptable.