Kaepernick has been out of the NFL since the 2016 season, when he protested racist police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem

Jay-Z told reporters he's focused on the activism campaign, Inspire Change, rather than Kaepernick, who was not consulted on the NFL-Roc Nation deal

The deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z's company, calls for the firm to be the NFL's 'live music entertainment strategist' and help the league's social activism campaign

Reid, now a Panthers safety, made the comment on Twitter after Jay-Z and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced a new partnership on Wednesday

Eric Reid, Colin Kaepernick's friend and former teammate, has accused Jay-Z of making 'millions of dollars by assisting the NFL in burying Colin's career'

Eric Reid, Colin Kaepernick's friend and former teammate, has accused rapper Jay-Z of 'making millions' off the free agent quarterback's social activism 'by assisting the NFL in burying Colin's career.'

Reid, now a Carolina Panthers safety, made the comment on Twitter after Jay-Z and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to reporters about their partnership in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The financial details of the agreement have not been publicized, but Jay-Z and his company, Roc Nation, will consult with the NFL on entertainment decisions, such as the Super Bowl halftime show, while assisting with the league's social activism campaign, Inspire Change.

Kaepernick expressed his gratitude for Reid's support on Twitter: 'You never turned your back on me or the people, even when the nfl tried to silence your voice & the movement.'

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Eric Reid (far right), Colin Kaepernick's friend and former teammate, has accused rapper Jay-Z of 'making millions' off the free agent quarterback's social activism 'by assisting the NFL in burying Colin's career.' Reid was the first NFL player to protest alongside Kaepernick (near right) during the 2016 season. Now a Carolina Panthers safety, Reid made the comment on Twitter after Jay-Z (near left) and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (far left) spoke to reporters about their partnership in Manhattan on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Jay-Z tried to focus on the league's social activism campaign, Inspire Change, rather than Kaepernick. Reid reacted directly to Jay-Z's quote on Twitter (above)

Jay-Z had been a critic of the league's treatment of Kaepernick, who famously protested inequality and racist police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem throughout the 2016.

Kaepernick has been out of the league since March of 2017. Both he and Reid, a fellow protester, settled their respective grievances against the NFL in February after accusing the owners of colluding to keep them unsigned in retaliation for the controversial demonstrations.

Eric Reid, a safety and former Pro Bowl selection, has continued protesting inequality and racist police brutality as a member of the Carolina Panthers

Other players have continued protesting in Kaepernick's absence, despite facing criticism from fans, owners, and even President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Jay-Z tried to focus on the league's social activism campaign, Inspire Change, rather than Kaepernick, who was not consulted on the NFL-Roc Nation agreement, according to his attorney, Mark Geragos, and girlfriend, Nessa Diab. (Both Jay-Z and Goodell said they spoke to Kaepernick before the deal, but did not go into the specifics of the conversations).

'Everybody knows I agree with [Kaepernick's message]. So what are we going to do?' Jay-Z asked rhetorically when speaking with reporters on Wednesday. '[Help] millions and millions of people, or we get stuck on Colin not having a job?'

Reid reacted directly to Jay-Z's quote on Twitter: 'These aren't mutually exclusive. They can both happen at the same time! It looks like your goal was to make millions and millions of dollars by assisting the NFL in burying Colin's career.'

The financial details of the agreement have not been publicized, but Jay-Z and his company, Roc Nation, will consult with the NFL on entertainment decisions, such as the Super Bowl halftime show, while assisting with the league's social activism campaign, Inspire Change

On Tuesday, Jay-Z was criticized for his agreement with the NFL by social activist Shaun King

You never turned your back on me or the people, even when the nfl tried to silence your voice & the movement. You’ve never flinched or wavered. I love you Brother! Let’s get it! @E_Reid35



And to the people - I see you, I hear you and I love you! Thank you for having my back!!!✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/kBJ1SCBYIq — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 15, 2019

Writing for The Atlantic, former ESPN writer Jemele Hill claimed that Kaepernick did speak with Jay-Z, but the conversation did not go well.

'A source close to Kaepernick, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, told me, "It was not a good conversation,"' Hill wrote.

Kaepernick's exclusion from the deal had left many puzzled, given that it was his protests that prompted the league and a players coalition to form the Inspire Change social activism campaign last year.

Reid, who was the first player to protest alongside Kaepernick and continues to demonstrate as a member of the Panthers, has objected to the players coalition. The former Pro Bowl selection has refused to stay quiet since signing with Carolina in the middle of the 2018 season – a transaction that came about after Reid accused the NFL owners of conspiring to keep him unsigned.

On Twitter, Reid was accused of hypocrisy for continuing his demonstrations and criticism of the NFL after re-joining the league.

'You & some others seem to misunderstand that we had no beef with the NFL until they started perpetuating the systemic oppression that we are fighting by blackballing Colin and then me,' Reid wrote on Twitter after being accused. 'Nah I won't quit playing but I will be a royal pain in the NFL's a** for acting like they care.'

On Twitter, Reid was accused of hypocrisy for continuing his demonstrations and criticism of the NFL after re-joining the league

Just in case anyone thought otherwise, Kaepernick did not consult on the NFL's deal with Jay-Z, according to the free agent quarterback's girlfriend, Nessa Diab

On Tuesday, Jay-Z was criticized by social activist Shaun King, among others.

'Let's be clear, he's a capitalist, and if a good deal comes along, even if it means working with the NFL at the expense of Colin Kaepernick, he'll make the deal,' King wrote on Twitter. 'That's what he just did.'

Someone affiliated with Kaepernick's 'Know Your Rights' campaign also knocked Jay-Z's deal with the NFL: 'Jay-Z NEVER took a knee. The fact that he has the [audacity] to say that, 'I think that we've moved past kneeling,' is ridiculous. He sacrificed NOTHING. In truth, he is actually capitalizing off of Kaepernick's loss.'

The NFL-Roc Nation agreement allows Jay-Z to consult with the league on its live music artists, meaning he would help choose halftime performers at the Super Bowl – an gig he previously turned down.

As Jay-Z rapped in his song with wife Beyonce, 'Apes***': 'You need me, I don't need you/Every night we in the end zone, tell the NFL we in stadiums too.'

On Wednesday, Jay-Z said his refusal to perform at the Super Bowl had nothing to do with Kaepernick, but rather, the process of selecting talent.

'I didn't like the process. I think the process of selection was fractured,' Jay-Z said. 'Take four of us and everybody thinks they're playing the Super Bowl. It's almost like this interview process. So if I could pick one, three other people are upset. That's not even good math. After three years nine people are upset and three people are going to play. I just think the process could've been more definite.'

Now Jay-Z will help pick Super Bowl halftime acts, and he could, for instance, tap one of the artists on his label, Roc Nation.

Today marks the three year anniversary of the first time I protested systemic oppression. I continue to work and stand with the people in our fight for liberation, despite those who are trying to erase the movement! The movement has always lived with the people! ✊🏾



🎥: @REL pic.twitter.com/TAqumRfjbi — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 14, 2019