Introduction

Recently, Donovan McNabb sat down for an interview with James Brown and made some controversial comments. Basically, what he said was that African-American Quarterbacks have to do a “little extra” because of their skin color.

Well, there’s one position where I think the minority has to do a lot extra because of their skin color.

White running backs, nearly extinct in the upper echelon of football, face strong opposition from the earliest stages and a strongly held belief that they simply can’t play the position. All that may be about to change…

A Little History

Shortly before the NFL draft this season I wrote a little piece about this phenomenon. It was titled “Position Available: White’s Need Not Apply” and focused on the story of a prospective white running back named Brian Leonard.

Over the course of the article I discussed the anomalous game of Brock Forsey against the Cardinals and the questions that followed (including, “Is it surprising you came out and had a great game and you’re white?”).

I also talked about how, according to Tony Dungy, white’s are discouraged from a young age from pursuing the “skill positions” (RB, WR, CB) and funneled into more appropriate positions.

Finally, I concluded that Brian Leonard, despite his size, skills, stats, speed, and toughness, would face a strong current against him because of his race. I don’t think it can be denied that to be a white running back you have to be truly special.

During my research I was very discouraged about his chances. Most sites agreed that he should be shifted to full-back despite running a 4.49 40 (Reggie Bush ran 4.38, Adrian Peterson ran 4.40, and Marshawn #### ran 4.46) and stating he preferred to be a running back. I thought he would surely be drafted as a full-back, if at all, and never get a real shot in the NFL; all because he was white.

Current Events

But that all changed today. I recalled that he had been drafted by the Rams in the second round but also that he had been drafted as a full-back. Besides, no matter how good he was I seriously doubted he could supplant Steven Jackson. Then Steven Jackson went and got hurt.

Now, the Rams are likely to elevate their number two running back into the starting slot. And that number two running back is, of course, Brian Leonard.

This development is stunning and quite unbelievable. I honestly didn’t know how to react when I learned that Brian Leonard would likely start this Sunday at running back. I thought it was a joke or a dream maybe even a Pepsi-induced hallucination. But, nay, it appears the Rams are seriously preparing to launch us into a brave new era in the NFL; an era in which franchise black quarterbacks are handing the ball off to elite white running backs.

Great White Hope

Now, Leonard’s not going to have an easy task this Sunday. He’s going up against the number 8 rush defense in the league and a team that is sitting atop the NFC. The Cowboys are sure to key on struggling QB Marc Bulger and will be looking to improve to 4-0.

Brian Leonard will face a determined defense Sunday and a group of guys determined not to let a white running back do well against them. We have yet to really see if he’s capable of doing the things he did in college in the NFL. And I’m not sure Leonard has had enough experience to be truly prepared for Sunday and I don’t think he’s going to set the world on fire, at least not yet.

But he has brought his “Leonard Leap” to the NFL in the preseason:

I’m really torn this Sunday. On the one hand, I’d love to see Leonard do really well this Sunday just to put a #### wrench in people’s perceptions. On the other hand, the Rams are playing the Cowboys and I, therefore, would love to see them completely crushed.

But even if Leonard isn’t successful this Sunday I think there is still one up and coming running back who could give white people everywhere reason for hope:

Conclusion

Are we going to see this stereotype torn down before our eyes on Sunday? I seriously doubt it. I think we’ll see Leonard struggle in his first start against a pretty good run defense but his struggles will not be because he’s white.

Will we see a day when both Brian Leonard and Sam McGuffie are starting in the NFL? Will we see a day when white running backs are as prosperous as they once were (post-integration I mean)? I don’t know. But be sure and tune in on Sunday because even if we don’t see those barriers torn down, we’re going to see a little crack form in them, and then it’s only a matter of time.