I've been unfairly maligned for pointing out the foibles of black NFL QB's for some time now. Face facts folks, I don't make the news, I just pass it along. For that reason, I find it unnecessary to defend my critique of this group or any other. What's ironic is that the line of critics stretching around the corner to label me a racist never jump in to mention how my sports writing hero is Ralph Wiley. They never rush to restate my admiration of of Doug Williams, either.

But as I've said all along, I'm all about the truth here. And the truth sets me free. Just as I hope it sets Daunte Culpepper free.

 I've seen the best of Culpepper and the worst of Culpepper just like the rest of us, and still I remain committed to the idea that this guy (however streaky he is) is one of the most under-appreciated, immensely gifted, and poorly coached QB's of his time. It ails me to hear #### announcers rave about a borderline #### like Steve McNair being such a physical phenom, when Culpepper posesses all the gifts McNair has but much more of them. McNair, however has had the gift of at least a competitive supporting cast around him.

But what I think makes me continue to hold Culpepper is high esteem is the way he copes with adversity. Like he has in dealing with the Trent Green situation. While Culpepper was right in stating that Miami rushed him back last year and is rushing him out the door now, he stopped short of embarassing himslef because what he said made perfect sense. Culpepper didn't stop there, though. He nicely packaged his request to be released as on opportunity for teams to get to know him at market value, rather than absorb what has become an inflated contract. This is a QB with a brain.  Even if his agent hand wrote the statement for him, he chose to deliver it, and that's the decision that counts. Kudos to Dante, I wish we could sign him in Pittsburgh, but I think he can and should start ahead of a long line of other NFL QB's. I sincerely hope he regains his health and stays away from the other AFCN teams.

But wait, there's more. From the "just when I thought Vince Young was Kordell II" department. Young completely flummoxes me by not only insisting that his WR's come to train with him in their off time, he foots the bill for the travel accomodations. I was clearly wrong about Young being stupid. His wonderlic score may say "dumb", but has any other 2nd year QB ever done this before. Tom Brady? No. Peyton Manning? No. In the simplest terms, Young has already shown more commitment than any other QB in the NFL this year. As much as I hate the Flaming Thumbtacks, I have to feel good for their fans and for Young.

Unfortunatley, it's not all good news. The Federal Stromtroopers raided Ron Mexico's PitBull Hotel, after waiting way too long for the yokels to remove their thumbs from their ####s. Naturally, the humiliated local cops fell all over themselves making excuses and even playing the race card. But who's buying it. The entire USA, and half of Atlanta (the half of the GA dome that Vick flipped off) was already wondering why the investigation seemed to be moving slower than evolution down there.

For ATL fans, this means you might have wished Artie kept Matt Schaub one season longer. After all, we know Matt Schaub, we've seen Matt Schaub, and gentlemen, Chris Redman is no Matt Schaub. Vick supporters can continue the delusions as much as they'd like, but when the Feds come knocking, it's a whole different ballgame. If the Feds had taken over the OJ case, he'd be just about out of appeals right now and ordering his last meal. OJ will be forever thanking his lucky stars that he was enraged enough to do his killing within state lines.

I can only wonder what Goody is going to do now that his hanging judge reputation will be challenged by a genuine top-draw. Because, make no mistake about it, even though he's struggled to become an average QB, Vick puts butts in seats. And that's the business the NFL is in.

Then again, maybe Goodell won't have to act right away. Maybe the Feds will take care of that for him.

 

Can you stand the upside-downness of Mike Chick's NC vote on Jim Mora Jr. ? I can't. It's downright insane when players start offering opinions on whether a coach should return next season. I suppose that the future of the NFL will be filled with loser QB's weighing in head on coaching decisions. That is as long as bufoons like Arthur Blank are the future team owners.

Even more ridiculous was Ron Mexico's statement that he had a great season. But no, that wasn't enough, he had to take it a step further and blame everyone else around him for his inability to become an NFL QB. Nice work, Mexico. You're one new HC away from being the next Kordell Stewart. Stewart, more and more looks like Mexico's daddy for teaching him how to weigh in on coaching, but Stew didn't have the tug with Dan Rooney so he got a coordinator fired (Ray Sherman). Then, when the new coordinator was too effective to blame, Stewie deservedly got himself exiled to the Bears, and eventually became an emergency punter in Baltimore.

For Mora's sake, I hope he gets fired. I secretly wish he ends up in Pittsburgh. Who wants to coach a team with a numbskull for an owner who has financially cemented a loser/quitter at QB? Blank can delude himself that the problem is anything but Chick. But the fact is, it gets worse from here as long as #7 is taking off after his first read is covered and pitching junk the minute he faces a decent defense. Besides, if the players are choosing the coaches, then you don't have coaches. Note to Jim, take the money and run.

Next on the "mobile" QB hit parade is Kordell V Young in TN. The scoreboard makes it look much closer, but the NE game serves notice of what TN fans can expect in the future. The secret of Young's success has been, just like Kordell's, a running game that disguises his deficiencies. So Young puts up decent stats, makes the team look competitive with his sandlot moves and gives you a close game until it matters. Sure, he had yet another electrifying TD run to make it interesting. But the Pats D clamped down and made VY or KY or whatever they call him throw the ball. The result, a game losing INT. End 0f drea,  end of story.

The measure of Young's career will be made with what he does with the information from that NE game. Will he stick to the idiotic notion that QB's win games with their legs or will he defy his intuition and find a way to play QB and get the ball to his team mates? My guess, if his wonderlic score is any indication, is the former. Another "Korkie" teasing (TN) fans into thinking they can win out until they face a decent defense that forces him to play the position he hasn't learned.

Whay mystifies me more than anything though, is the goo####ance Young has cooked up to delight (himself) the fans. Does he have any idea how #### he looks with all those stupid machinations? You'd think he'd spend his spare time learning the playbook instead of preparing to follow Emmitt Smith on Dancing with the stars.