Are quarterbacks that are black, facing constant criticism for their playing style in the National Football League? Lets not even mention the list of black quarterbacks that have won a Super Bowl and received a ring. During the 2009 season, six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb lost his starting job to Rex Grossman in a tough lost in Detroit to the Lions. Former Chicago Bears starting Quarterback took his starting job in the team's two minute offense. Head Coach Mike Shanahan from the Washington Redskins questioned McNabb's "cardiovascular endurance."
During the 2010 season, Tennessee Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher, benched the 5th overall draft pick Vince Young. He was benched due to throwing a number of interceptions to a 19 - 16 lost to the Washington Redskins. Coach Fisher told the media after the game that he was trying to protect the severity of Young's injury that his 27 year old quarterback of the time was being removed as the starter. Jason Campbell who was fighting for his job for the Oakland Raiders in 2010, lost his starting job for the second time throughout the year against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Throughout the years you see many starting black quarterbacks finding a rough time keeping their starting job for their team. When is the last time you have heard a black quarterback win a Superbowl? The last quarterback to do so was Doug Williams. It's been 27 years since Doug Williams a Superbowl with the Washington Redskins. That was the first and only time ever a black quarterback has won. That is not a good thing. We should have had another one by now. Obviously the NFL is not racism because majority of the players are black but how come it seems black quarterbacks seem to have a difficult time grasping the position.
6 years ago, Donovan McNabb told HBO's Real Sports that back quarterbacks in the NFL face more pressure and tougher criticism than white quarterbacks do. The responses came back to be pretty predictable. Now you had Michael Vick on covers and he was once the highest paid player in the league overall. He was the cover of many Sport's Illustrated magazines and comeback player of the year in 2010. Former quarterback Shaun King said. "Any franchise Caucasian quarterback will get unlimited opportunities to realize their potential." McNabb even complained for the fact that Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer don't get heavily criticized if they have bad games. Doug Williams said, " When you're an African - American - President, you have to be mentally tough. If you're an African - American heading American Express, you have to be mentally tough." Many black quarterbacks who were benched in their prime, agreed that race was not a factor in how they were perceived by their Head Coaches. It is tough to argue the NFL is racist towards players because majority of the players that get rewarded with million dollar contracts are black. The question is though are black quarterbacks put under more pressure to succeed for their teams than any other race of quarterbacks?
Source
Hill, Jemele. "Is Race Still an Issue for NFLÂ QBs?" ESPN.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=hill/101123>.
Magary, Drew. "Save The Black Quarterback." Deadspin. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. <http://deadspin.com/5974789/save-the-black-quarterback>.
Pictures
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=hill/101123
http://turnonthejets.com/2012/05/why-do-you-hate-the-jets-nfc-east-edition-part-i/
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