In
an interview on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" to be
broadcast Tuesday, McNabb said black quarterbacks "have to do a little bit
extra" because there are relatively few of them, adding "people didn't want
us to play this position." (New York AP)
First
of all, why is Bryant Gumbel still on television? And more importantly, why is anyone talking
to him?
Okay,
I digress….
Donovan’s
soapbox is a “Woe is me” diatribe, nothing more. Donovan is a great quarterback. I am a fan.
The guy plays hurt, the guy plays with his heart. With that said, this latest rant is
misplaced. I could easily go on the
Bryant Gumbel show – I believe you need a pulse and 6 bucks to get on, and
speak about the plight of the white wide receiver. They definitely have to “do a little bit
extra”. The “white wideout” is rarity
and all of them are know for the good hands.
Go ahead, name the white wideouts who are in the Top 10 in the NFL…
here, I’ll help you with the Top 20.
Wes
Welker! That’s it! If you want to go back to a full season, last
year Mike Furrey sat at number 14 as the lone “white wideout”.
McNabb’s
issue should be pointed in a more singular direction: sorry Philly fans, but you
are the toughest fans to please in all of sports. You throw batteries on the field…as Mike
Schmidt so aptly noted – a white man for those of you not in the know… “"Philadelphia is the only city, where you can experience the thrill
of victory and the agony of reading about it the next day."
Why Philly fans are so hard on their teams and the
players is beyond me. I’m from Chicago. I have much more of a right, we as Chicagoans
have much more of right to #### and complain, spew hatred, batteries, hoagies,
what have you.
The ire of the Philly fan is rough. I know Donovan knows this. Rather than directing this at the actual
culprits, he broadened his meaning to include all. That ain’t right.
In 2003,
even Rush Limbaugh said: "I
think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL… "The
media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."
If
Limbaugh, a notorious blowhard is saying that the media is looking for a “Black
quarterback” to do well, that pretty much contradicts Donovan’s "people
didn't want us to play this position" comment. I’m not Limbaugh is right, I don’t know or
care. I want my team to play well.
With
that said, Donovan has 3 options:
Go to his wideouts and
tell them, with a finger in their face that they bite. They sincerely are the worst core in the
NFL.
Go to the GM and ask
for a trade – get out of Philly and see what life is like for a “black
quarterback” in another city. I’m
guessing Michael Vick doesn’t have much bad to say about Atlanta
or Warren Moon about Houston or Kordell
Stewart about Pittsburgh.
Hold a press
conference and let everyone get their gripes off their chest. Are the fans still pissed about the
SB? Did you really vomit in the
huddle or did you pack it in like TO insinuated?
Whichever
way Donovan chooses to run, he better get moving. His life in Philly ain’t gonna get better if
he plays the way he has been and continues to lose to the likes of Washington. And it ain’t gonna get better when he has to
throw the ball to Hank “needs a “ Baskett and the fans will never tolerate a
losing a team.
It
ain’t a black thing for Donovan McNabb.
He’s been a Pro Bowler. He’s been
the quarterback in the Super Bowl. He’s
received fan letters from across the world accolades from his peers, the media and the fans themselves.
He was handed the starting job
back when Garcia – a white man – came in and played balls out and got the
Eagles into the playoffs. He needs to
play better and the Philly fans need to shut the #### up and stop embarrassing
themselves.
I wish McNabb hadn't gone racial. He's not playing well, and it appears he knows the end of his illustrious career is near, or may never be the same again.
Thus said, I am not in McNabb's shoes. Therefore, I do not know what he, personally, has experienced as a Black QB.
Last edited by MeanDovine on September 19th at 8:51 AM.
HEY EVERONE GROW UP, RACISM EXSIST EVEN IN THE NFL
SO STOP GETTING MAD WHEN A BLACK PERSON GIVES HIS OPINION ON THE SUBJECT. EXAMPLE: HARRINGTON, GROSSMAN, LOSHMAN, ALL HAVE STARTING JOBS,LEFTWICH,CULPEPPER INJURED AND LOOK AT THEM.
Well stated Northside. Donovan may personally feel like he's got it harder than Peyton, but I think most people don't think that is a fair argument. It seems like he's trying to place his lack of ability to quarterback well and win games on something other than his lack of ability. I think he's gonna get a lot more boos now.
Last edited by sportthink on September 19th at 2:14 PM.
mean - great to see you. You're right. McNabb is simply misplacing it and regarding his shoes, again, spot on. I have no idea what he has faced, but when he speaks in gross generalities rather than being specific, he leaves that door open.
GA - Stuck - Harrington has a job for exactly one week. Leftwich will be the starting QB. Racism? yes it exists but not that rampantly. Russell - #1 pick, QB and the richest contract EVER.
JP Losman plays on a bad team. Peyton Manning couldn't make them into a playoff team.
Getting mad or disagreeing with an opinion? Isn't that the basis for this community? if we all thought the same way, life would be hella boring.
Culpepper who has done nothing in 4 years still has a job. Henry Burris? Akili Smith? They both, just to name a couple, lasted way beyond their true sill level.
Stop gettin' so mad mate. Use the compass I have provided and find your way back to GA and stop misplacing your Birmingham-based anger.
hey sportthink - thanks mate. You're right. If he thought it was bad before, it's gonna be hell now. Every incompletion is going to be a chorus of boos and batteries.
Hey NSF-Like Mean, I think McNabb's comments were misplaced, but I would bet that there's no doubt he has encountered some skepticism in his career. Regarding the interview, I didn't see it or read the full transcript. Did James Brown bring up the black QB subject first, or did McNabb just start talking about it? If JB brought it up, I would say that was just as unnecessary as McNabb's comments, since I think most of us don't think the black QB is much of an issue anymore. In fact, a lot of us never thought it was in the first place.
"Why Philly fans are so hard on their teams and the players is beyond me. I’m from Chicago. I have much more of a right, we as Chicagoans have much more of right to BLEEP and complain, spew hatred, batteries, hoagies, what have you" -
Ummmmm...no. Don't think so.
Since 1983 - Championships won:
Chicago - 6 NBA (and you got to watch Jordan play for a decade), 1 NFL (bonus points for the Superbowl Shuffle), 1 World Series.
Philadelphia _ NONE. Zero. Zip. Nothing. For god's sake, we're so desperate to celebrate something, we were gonna have a parade for Barbaro if he'd won the triple crown, and he broke his leg, and then DIED.
You have NOTHING. NOTHING on us when it comes to misery.
BTW, I think Donovan's right - I think he does get too much criticism. I don't know if it's racially motivated, but I'm not living in his shoes.
I'm so sick and tired of people playing the race card it's rediculous. There is prejudice in every race and on every front but in my opinion it will never go away because of stupid comments such as what Mcnabb said. It just fuels the fire of those that are ignorent and racist. What he said is no different than Limbaugh. It opens a door that is hard to shut because from this point on not all but many people will look at you differently and have some negative opinion about you. And if it's a white man who has that opinion he'll be labeled a racist. And if it's an African-American who has a negative opinion about McNabb he'll be labled an Uncle Tom. Ignorence breeds more Ignorence.
Last edited by gambit1974 on September 19th at 9:54 AM.
From what I understand, McNabb's statements were taped before his poor play began.
Still, I wish guys would simply take a pass on questions based soley on race, especaily when talking to someone on camera. One has zero control over how his/her comments will be edited, or in what context they will be used or aired, or even when said comments will air.
McNabb has made it to the top of the NFL. He just happens to be black. Roll with it, bro. Hell, folks will find reason to criticize you if you have purple hair.
Make no mistake, winning silences a lot, if not all, criticism. And when it doesn't, those who criticize nonetheless will look and/or sound like idiots.
I may chime in with more on the subject later. For now, Jason Whitlock and RationalFan seem to have the argument covered.
But I will say that the backlash over this issue is proof that people don't listen. They catch a headline or a chopped up piece of a quote so they can rant about their uninformed & prefabricated opinions.
Of all the derogatory opinions out there today...how many of those people actually read or listened to the entire interview?
Those that are claiming this is an "excuse" for his poor play prove my point. Unless McNabb has a time machine, that isn't even possible.
People crave controversy...so much that they are forced to create it.
Last edited by ShooterB on September 19th at 11:08 AM.
shooter, I made the comment "man up and quit making excuses for bad play" I wasn't meaning just "this year". I realize the interview was pre-recorded, but with all his injuries of late, he has just been horrible for a while now.
2004: QB Rating 104.7 (the only year with a marquee receiver)
2005: QB Rating 85, 16 TD, 9 INT (attempted to play with a sports hernia, numbers still better than average)
2006: QB Rating 95.5, 18 TD, 6 INT
I'm just guessing, but I bet that Chicago fans would take that kind of "horrible" production in a heartbeat.
Shooter, let me make myself clear. I AM a fan of Donovan, but anyone can make 2 yard passes and hopefully it will turn into a big play. Right now, he can't hit the side of a barn. With that said, and to get back to the original point, what does race have to do with his performance? White qb's are also critized for bad play. I am so past black qb's can't play in the NFL, guys like Donovan are the ones that keeping bringing it to light.
"Anyone can make 2 yard passes and hopefully it will turn into a big play"?
Are you kidding? This is a QB with the 2nd lowest TD/INT ratio in the history of the league - the ONLY QB to ever throw more than 30 TD's in a season with fewer than 10 INTs. If you want to suggest that Donovan doesn't deserve credit for ANY of those accomplishments, then I'd suggest you get your head examined.
There are CERTAINLY aspects of his game that can be criticized - he tries too hard to "zip" the ball on intermediate routes, making for less accurate throws - he was WAY too enamored of the long pass early in the season last year, etc. - but playing like a pro bowl QB and losing in a big game situation does NOT make him a bad QB.
Donovan has certainly made bad plays over the years - and the funny thing is? He's ALWAYS - and I mean ALWAYS taken responsibility when he's made the mistakes.
It seemed to me that Donovan's point was that there seems to be MORE emphasis on his flaws than on his accomplishments from fans and media, and that comparable white QBs don't take as much heat.
I believe that there is more criticism of Donovan than of other QBs, but I'm not sure it's racially based, but I certainly understand why he'd feel that way.
Just FYI, I decided to do a little quick and dirty (and therefore very flawed, I know, I know...) Google-Fu to try and find a comparable white QB to Donovan to get a basis of comparison here, and the best I can do is Matt Hasselbeck - their career QB ratings are about 1/2 of a point apart, and they're pretty much the same in terms of W/L & playoff success.
Then, I Googled the phrase "bench Hasselbeck", and got about 140,000 links. The phrase "bench McNabb" rang up about 340,000 links. Hmmm...
McNabb is playing like a ####.......so the best comeback he has is to say that he gets treted like #### because he is black. That's not true......he #### and it just so happens he is black. Why is that racist?
Loan, once again...RationalFan steps in with a better explanation than I could offer. So I think he has the aspect of Donovan's production covered.
But back to the question you ask about race...
From my perspective, McNabb takes more criticism than most QB's. I don't necessarily think it's only about race. But like many have expressed over this issue, none of his are in his shoes...so there's really no way to say if he's right or wrong.
He was simply stating his opinion about why. He didn't say the whole country was guilty of racial discrimination. He didn't say that it has anything to do with his performance. All he said was that he receives more criticism...plain and simple.
I don't agree with everything he said, but I do think he has been unfairly criticized over the past several years. And I'm confident that if people took the time read the entire interview and put a little thought into it, that they wouldn't find his opinion very controversial at all.
"What does race have to do with his performance?"
Nothing. So why are people saying he's using that as an excuse?
NorthSideFan
And once Donovan get a pair of balls
between his legs instead of whining like a #### then perhaps someone might just listen to what he's got to say. Give the old di*khead a friggin' pacifier for God's sake and let's be done with him. If he actually showed some real leadership on the field instead of acting like a girl scout then players like Owens would've had respect for him. Hey Donovan these are fightin' words join the friggin' military and then see what it's like to be a man and actually fight like one instead of complaining like #### !
What's particularly troubling about this issue is the number of people who are assuming that McNabb was somehow using what he feels as "additional pressure" on black QB's as an excuse for his play - if you actually watch the interview, McNabb never says that this "extra pressure" is why he hasn't won a Superbowl, or why he fails to throw accurately to the middle part of the field - only that the "pressure" does, in his mind at least, exist.
Assuming that even discussing this situation is somehow "making an excuse" is only supporting a racist stereotype - that black men will, when challenged by adversity, blame "the man" for all of their problems. Donovan has not done this, but it sure seems like everybody seems to think he has. Perhaps it's not Donovan with the problem.
Last edited by RationalFan23 on September 19th at 2:06 PM.
"If he actually showed some real leadership on the field instead of acting like a girl scout then players like Owens would've had respect for him."
Interesting you bring that up, Top - because all I'm hearing in Philly right now is how much better of a "leader" Jeff Garcia was than Donovan - how'd all that "leadership" serve Jeff when HE was playing with TO?
Sportthink, like I said, flawed research, I know - I should probably also mention that in the cursory glance I took, the overwhelming majority of "bench Hasselbeck" articles were related to Fantasy Football, while the McNabb ones were...well, let's just say a little more "passionate".
Honestly though what is there to like about Donovan McNabb??????? He seems to whine a lot. His mother is too involved in his commercials and his persona. He took a big character hit when he lowered himself to #### and moan with T.O. Quarterbacks are held to a higher standard, and when their character is in question they lose their jobs, ie. Jake Plummer.
Last edited by sportthink on September 19th at 2:15 PM.
Northside, very interesting point to your post. But do you believe that McNabb was pointing at the fact that most black men who played football back in the day were discouraged from playing the QB position and he somewhat feels that the perception is still out there? I don't know his reasoning for this, but this is what he feels. It's what he said. And I don't think people were telling white guys back in the day, you cannot play wide receiver because white guys are just not fast enough to play the position. I believe, however, they were kind of persuaded to the QB position and told that the black guys will catch the ball. Very interesting points again. But I think McNabb's comments should be given some thought, because he's a guy who seems to really think about what he's going to say before saying it.
rationalfan, take a chill pill. Are you related to him? I just said he dinks these 2 yard passes and hopes for a big gain. How exactly does your comparison of td/int. ratio factor into that statement? Also, I said I liked Donovan (please read complete statement before commenting) but he hasn't been playing well and that has nothing to do with race. Oh, the hits on your google experiment, maybe Philly fans are just more passionate, again, maybe nothing to do with race.
McNabb clearly lost the game himself Sunday with those last two errant passes. Just wasn't like him to make those kinds of throws to wide open receivers.
Most of you on here have never played professional football or any other professional sport. So for you to fully understand where he's coming from you have to A: be black B: play QB in college or the NFL C: be in a minority in a position of leadership without all of the tools to be successful. Ex. OL & WR help make great QB's ask Peyton. At this point Donovan's football life he should be able to speak freely. Hell the man has been more of a role model than most of the men on here have been to their sons.
Last edited by Ecupirate8 on September 19th at 7:56 PM.
McNabb has had a mediocre career statistically speaking. He can't come to terms with it so he deflects the attention to race.
Let's get real. He had two decent seasons when he first became a starter with 3,365/3,233 yards and 21/25 TD passes. Since then he's been in a tailspin, constantly hurt with only one great season in 2004.
He should be happy to have led his team to 4 straight NFC titles, but when history tells the story he's not going be one of even the 5 best QBs of his time in the NFL. I'd take Peyton, Brady, Green, Palmer, Favre and Bulger right off the top.
Yeah, white people didn't want blacks to play quarterback. Right. Owners who drop all that money on a franchise won't take the best available player regardless of their race. Blacks just weren't playing quarterback for whatever reason. Deal with it Donovan. I hope he's traded to Jacksonville so he can stop making these insane comments.
I suppose Joey Harrington, Josh McCown (crucified here in Oakland on the radio this week) and Ben "the motorcyle" Roethlisberger have never been criticized too right? Dear lord how about David Carr? McNabb is an ####. Go eat some Chunky Soup or better yet a bowl of shut the hell up.
I absolutely don't agree with Mcnabb's self-serving rant.....
I view this as a sad attempt at misdirection from a QB who has utterly failed at his job and is angry that he now must endure jeers where once there were cheers..........
If your going to revel in the adulation of the victorious you had better be man enough to be contrite during the critiques of the defeated.....
It is very disappointing to watch such a proud man fall to such depths....the race card Donovan????
Say it ain't so ......
We all remember what happened to the lil' boy who cried" Wolf" to many times, when the wolf really showed himself no one would believe him......
It is quite funny how some folks think that racism is a disease that only infects white people.......
Ironically , it is this very belief that exsposes the racism in them.....
It always amazes me how many folks are out there roaming around with a racism log stuck in their head and virulently ranting about the racism splinter in someone elses eye.......
northside: Great stuff! Funny, I was going to put up something of the same nature on the subject.
True, racism is alive and well in all of sports. But, lets face the facts. In McNabb's case, 'he just straight s-uck' right now. Like ioanumoney said, don't make excuses, Play ball! Everyone gets these lows in their careers. It's just more pressure when you are a QB, and in the NFL: 'Not For Long' if you keep playing the way you do. Now you add this kind of comment to it? It's clear he is cracking under pressure, and in a more serious manner than all other QB's facing trying times. It's sad to see or hear these type of comment from our high profile sports 'role models'. "Man is the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes". Mahatma Gandhi. So true in all aspects of life. Especially when you are exposed in this manner. Furthermore, "Nothing in this world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Martin Luther King Jr. And in conclusion, "It takes two minutes to ruin the reputation of a thousand years." Japanese Proverb.
Sadly enough, the Eagles traded away Carcia who took them to the playoffs and bank the farm on him (McNabb)returning this year to be their leader, again!
Last edited by duesele on September 19th at 11:28 PM.
Donovan's comments had nothing to do with how he was playing, it was an overall assessment of being a Black QB. If you played QB in college, black players used to be asked to switch positions in the NFL. It was assumed they couldn't handle it because it was a thinking position.
Real Sports is one of the best sports shows on television and Bryant Gumbel is that dude. I guess you don't watch it, but he's mostly in the studio and rarely reports.
And Philly is a tough town. I was born and raised here and we take no prisoners. We just want to win and we like players who play their hearts out.
You have a lot of fans here that have an unrealistic and spoon fed point of view and they tend to be the most extreme. And the media doesn't help at all.
This has never been the city to start and retire in. I thought Allen Iverson might make it and he almost did, but it was just too much.
So I think McNabb will make out better elsewhere. Everyone does!
Week Date Opp Score QBRat Comp Att Yds Y/A Lng Int TD Att Yds Y/A Lng TD Sack SackYds Fum FumL
1 Sep 9 @ GNB L 13-16 60.7 15 33 184 5.6 37 1 1 4 9 2.3 4 0 1 4 0 0
2 Sep 17 WAS L 12-20 74.5 28 46 240 5.2 19 0 0 2 15 7.5 11 0 3 14 0 0
These are Palmers #s post knee injury and McNabb's are below, they are not that impressive for either one but Palmer won his first two and McNabb lost his first two. this year looks just like the 2003, and the Eagles might just end up in the NFC title game like they did that year.
I owe all of you for that. Or perhaps, Fox Sports never wanted a 30 something upper middle class white guy to be an "Interesting Blog". I feel all of your eyes. I know I have to step up my game, do a bit more, to deflect your hateful, jealous stares.
Is self-pity infectious? Wow. What have I become?
Thanks to all my mates who enabled me to climb this moutain. Circuitous a route as it may have been...
If McNabb really now wants to be seen as an individual that can lead a team on the field then let him show what he can really do. We all know that he's done it before with four straight NFC championship games and a Superbowl appearance. But this incessant whoa is me and the frailties of being an Afrcian American quarterback in the league means nothing. For Christ's sakes he's now playing the game in the 21st century. And one doubts that upon his return to the locker room he's answerable to an overseer. Hell he's doing a disservice to those that've preceded him in the game that are of his own race. I don't ever hear Doug Williams complaining about his perceived frailties. And to my knowledge he too was an African American.
Okay, I've been gone awhile. The whole work, job thing is really becoming more of a detriment to my blogging than I had hoped our thought.
I am massive Cub fan... though not in the physical sense. I do know this guy who is a massive Cub fan. He likes the Cubs okay, but the man is #### huge.
Bear fan, though it's tough these days. I still believe in Rex, so yes I am certifiable.
Huge soccer fan, played forever; in college after college and then one day half of my right quad got mad at the other half and decided to split. That was the end of my soccer days.
I have two daughters 3 and 6 and one on the way... (Disclaimer: I did mention above that yes I am certifiable - now you know why. I live in a sea of estrogen.)
In teaching my girls to be Cub fans:
Me: The Cubs haven't won the WS in 99 years.
6 year old: Wow. Will they ever win?
3 year old: I can't even count that high.
So as we move forward, GO CUBS!
