Here is an EXCELLENT article by FOXSPORTS freelance writer, Jason Whitlock:
For reasons far more nuanced than he offered Tuesday night on HBO, Donovan McNabb is right, black NFL quarterbacks face more pressure, scrutiny and criticism than their white counterparts. The assertion is neither debatable nor controversial. In fact, when James Brown's sit-down interview with the star quarterback was over, I wondered how McNabb's comments had caused much of a stir. He'd simply stated the obvious in the most inoffensive way possible. McNabb's comments were not angry, defiant or whiny. They were matter of fact.
They were also incomplete and, therefore, out of context.
I believe McNabb, more than any black quarterback who has played the game, understands all of the obstacles facing a black "franchise" quarterback. And he knows that it would be highly dangerous to put all of the issues on the table.
We can't handle the truth. The media aren't equipped to tell it. And he justifiably fears that his black teammates aren't ready to digest it.
You see, many of the roadblocks standing before a black QB are placed there by other African-Americans. Stick with me, let me explain. There is no doubt that racism has been a factor in the level and the intensity of criticism thrown at McNabb since the day the Eagles drafted him.
More important and damaging, racism -- unintentional and intentional -- has contributed to an atmosphere where it is difficult for the average fan or member of the media to recognize a blatantly obvious truth about McNabb's career:
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and head coach Andy Reid have failed to properly support McNabb.
The one year they provided McNabb with a legitimate No. 1 receiver (Terrell Owens), he threw 31 TDs and just nine interceptions and led the Eagles to within a field goal of winning Super Bowl XXXIX.
Lurie got away with being embarrassingly cheap because Donovan's young legs compensated for the lack of playmakers in the passing game and a mediocre offensive line. McNabb — injured three of the last five years — has been used up and the Eagles are preparing to spit him out (drafting Kevin Kolb) primarily because
the Eagles did not give him the kind of support Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer and to a lesser degree Tom Brady received in Indianapolis, Cincinnati and New England, respectively. McNabb has their talent, their work ethic and their intellect for the game. He's never received their support (Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ben Watson, Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Deion Branch). And the lack of support isn't just from ownership, fans, media and Rush Limbaugh. As best exemplified during the Owens fiasco, McNabb was sold out by many of his black teammates. This is the uncomfortable truth that we want to ignore. It's a truth that McNabb will probably only address in retirement. Over the last 15 years, the influx of money and the implementation of the salary cap have dramatically changed the politics of the NFL. Franchise quarterbacks, the guys with the $100 million contracts, are given so much money in guaranteed bonuses that the position is now a management job. For instance, because of his contract and importance to the organization, Manning is basically in partnership with owner Jim Irsay, head coach Tony Dungy and offensive coordinator Tom Moore. A typical NFL locker room is 70 percent black. It is my belief that black players are more accepting of a white player being in a management position than a black player. The Owens-McNabb feud was clearly over money and fueled by jealou$y. Owens, an idiot cancer, felt like McNabb should've pressured ownership to rework Owens' contract. Owens labeled McNabb a sellout and the message gained traction in a Philly locker room filled with players disgruntled about Lurie's frugality and envious of McNabb's contract.
Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots are known as cheap and have jettisoned several high-profile, productive black players (Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Deion Branch). Has anyone labeled Tom Brady a sellout?
Donovan McNabb has been attacked from every racial angle. A leader of the Philadelphia NAACP ripped McNabb for becoming more of a pocket passer. He's criticized by some for being too close to his parents. His leadership ability has been questioned because he didn't respond forcefully enough to TO's stupidity.
Wow. This dude is as good as it gets.
He comes from a great home, wonderful, dignified parents. He's carried himself with class through a ton of adversity. He's a winner. He's exactly what we claim we want pro athletes to be. But somehow that's not good enough. And you think there's not more criticism heaped on black quarterbacks?
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7241878
That last line could have been said any better....!
