So, I assume we all heard the quarterback Donovan McNabb rant? Well, I got to thinking and did some heavy research. Don't sweat it man, it's not just you.

Rookie Brian Leonard, a second round draft pick hailing from Rutgers, will be the starter next Sunday for the St. Louis Rams on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. He will be filling in for  Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson after he sustained a partial tear of his left groin in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-3 loss to Tampa Bay. What's so significant about this you ask? I'm glad you asked. Brian Leonard will be the first "white" running back since 2003 to start an NFL regular season game. And don't even think about Oakland Raider Justin Fargas, he's Hispanic. The lack of racial diversity at the tailback position is something not many people think about on a regulal basis or even when watching your favorite running back bruise for a red zone TD.

 After extensive research, I found the last non-minority to start the game at the running back position was a man by the name of Brock Forsey who started two games with the Chicago Bears in 2003 while replacing an injured Anthony Thomas. In the first game, he plowed through the Cardinals for 134 yards. But after a dismal 3 carry, -4 yard performance the following week in a loss to the Packers, he didn't get the ball the rest of the season. Order had been restored.

 Since the leagues reintegration in 1945, black tailbacks slowly but surely dominated the position finishing in the top 5 in rushing 24 times (48%). In a league where minorities make up 70% (like the irony?) it's no surprise that nearly 99% of the running backs make up minorities.  Since 1985, 95 different running backs combined for 235 1,000-yard rushing seasons. None of them white.

The reason for the rarity of caucasian males in that position may start as early as high school where they are discouraged to play running back and are told to "beef up" and play fullback. Many college teams don't even accept white players at running back due to the overwhelming number of blacks already at tailback at college and professional levels.  

So what's so special about Leonard? Brian Leonard beginning started when he got a shot in practice following poor performances by the teams other running backs. Leonard raced for a 30-yard gain followed by a 40-yard rush. Leonard excelled greatly at Rutgers and quickly became a favorite to win the Heisman in 2006 but took a diminished role as a blocker to allow teammate Ray Rice to become the star. Not only is he big, 6'1" at 226lbs, but he's fast recording a 4.49 40 entering the NFL draft whcih is excpetionally well for a fullback and above average for a running back. He also benched 228lbs. 28 times, more than any other running back.  In a previous interview, during his college days at the University of Pittsburgh, now Washington Redskins rookie linebacker H.B. Blades had this to say about Leonard:

"He's a very, very underrated player...he's the best running back I've played against since I've been in college." (This includes Kevin Jones, Julius Jones, Walter Reyes and Darius Walker) "That combination of power and speed is amazing. Some of the runs he makes in the open field, he can cut like a tailback. He jumps over safeties when they try and cut him, but then he runs over linebackers and defensive linemen. His combination of power and speed just makes him the best at what he does."

He was successful while at Rutgers, finishing his college career fourth all-time in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns at the college. He caught static for being a white running back early in his college years and hopes to end the trend that "White men can't run."