Is race still an issue for NFL QBs?

[Jocephus]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commenta ... ill/101123

[TheoSqua]

He makes a compelling argument, but I think his logic is a little off.

Peyton Manning isn't getting criticized because he only threw 4 Interceptions all year before the last two games. Even then, Manning is on a team that wouldn't even be competitive without him on it. It's hard to fault a QB for losing a game when the only reason the team had a chance of winning was because of that QB. Manning is also not a fringe QB like Campbell, he's one of the most established QBs in league history. It's not like they're benching a 34 year old Warren Moon here. As for McNabb, his problems is almost entirely performance based. And that's not a racial limitation. A lot of people called for Brett Favre's head in New York, and a lot of people are calling for it now.

I do think it's odd that there hasn't really been many superstar caliber black QBs. I wonder if the black athletes who could be superstar-caliber QBs in the NFL aren't playing the QB position, or is it they're not given the opportunity to develop into that?

Also, isn't it interesting that the same 4-5 teams seem to always try black QBs? The Raiders have used Russell and Campbell. The Eagles had Vick and McNabb. The Redskins had McNabb and Campbell. The Titans/Oilers have had Moon/McNair/Young. The Vikings had Dante Culpepper and Tavaris Jackson. Even then, i think it's a hallow argument if you start to dig deeper. There's tons more black QBs than these that have played on other teams. For example Troy Smith is getting a chance in San Francisco.

I do think it's odd that there haven't been many superstar black QBs in the NFL in the last 30 years, but I have absolutely no idea why that is.

[cpebbles]

I do think it's odd that there haven't been many superstar black QBs in the NFL in the last 30 years, but I have absolutely no idea why that is.

For whatever reason, a lot of the black QBs in the past 20 years have been trying to be the next Randall Cunningham instead of the next Warren Moon. I personally think Tecmo Super Bowl is to blame.

Seriously, the NFL is a passing league, and it's hard to be a star QB there are two QBs in your division throwing for twice as many yards per game as you.

[Leroy]

Theo, right now the Raiders would try a Martian if they thought he could complete a forward pass.

[InvincibleCakeEater]

He makes a compelling argument, but I think his logic is a little off.

Sexist

[TheoSqua]

He makes a compelling argument, but I think his logic is a little off.

Sexist

You mean ESPN lets women write stuff?

[TimeForGuinness]

What about Vick, Garrard, Freeman?

[lukethedrifter]

What about Vick, Garrard, Freeman?

If you read the article you'll find that it's not the lack of black QBs but how many opportunities and how much criticism they get.

[Faceman]

the argument seems pretty weak, I mean Jemele basically counterpoints every point she has.

[Popeye_Card]

I have a serious issue with the lack of black placekickers and punters in the NFL. I cannot wait for the day when we can celebrate the first black punter to appear in the Super Bowl.