Did Jay-Z and New York Giant Victor Cruz Violate League Rules?


(Anthony Gruppuso/USA Today Sports)

When Victor Cruz signed with Roc Nation/CAA and Jay-Z, it seemed like it would be an easy connection to keep Cruz as a New York Giant for years to come. Now that relationship has caused some questions about if Cruz and CAA violated NFL rules.

There are rules in the CBA that prohibit agencies from using, associating with, employing, or entering into a business relationship with a non certified league individual when recruiting clients. Since Jay-Z is such a big name, you have to think he will get certified, and this will get swept under the rug.

The big question is how does it help the Giants keep Cruz for the long-term? Well, for one thing, Jay-Z is from Brooklyn which can help try to keep Cruz in New York. Secondly, Cruz wants to increase his marketing visibility, including the popularity of his clothing line, Young Whales. There’s no better place to do that kind of thing than New York.

Cruz is smart in trying to plan for life after football. We all know how short careers can be in the game. There are reports of him wanting as much as $10 million a year, when the Giants are offering seven per. I feel that eventually they will work a deal out, but probably after the draft.

The thing to be learned from this is not that Cruz and Robinson Cano are the first clients for Roc Nation. It’s that CAA was smart enough to hitch their wagon to Jay-Z and that this is only the beginning of agencies and entertainment moguls joining forces to impact sports. Cruz and Cano are first but certainly won’t be the last.

Check out the hottest news anchors in the world!
50 players that deserve to be in the NFL Hall of Fame.
2013 NFL mock draft: week 4 update on 1st round.

Sign Up
for the


2013 NFL Draft

Jarvis Jones-UGA 2013 NFL Mock Draft Through October
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Every NFL Team’s Biggest Need in the 2013 NFL Draft
MantiTe'o 2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Top 5 Players at Every Major Position

We Recommend

Rant NFL

Around the Web