In a recent interview for HBO’s Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel, Donovan McNabb said that black quarterbacks are criticized more than their white counterparts.
“Let me start by saying I love those guys (Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer),” McNabb said. “But they don’t get criticized as much as we do. They don’t. I pass for 300 yards. Our teams wins by seven. [They say,] ‘He could have made this throw. They would have scored if he did this.’
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.”
I think McNabb is a class act in general, but he’s being shortsighted. Every quarterback gets thoroughly criticized – it comes with playing the position. Before Manning won a Super Bowl last year, he was referred to as one of the biggest choke artists in sports. His brother Eli is often criticized for not being a leader. Chad Pennington doesn’t have an NFL-caliber arm. Joey Harrington isn’t tough enough. Brett Favre is inconsiderate to the Packers for being indecisive about retirement. J.P. Losman is an underachiever. Drew Brees is too small. Hell, Rex Grossman can’t even get up in the morning without being criticized for how he rolled out of bed.
I think due to the importance of the position, how much money they make and often their lofty draft status, quarterbacks are under the microscope more in general. I don’t think the mass majority criticizes quarterbacks by their race, but then again I haven’t walked in McNabb’s shoes.
Great points about all the criticism white QBs take as well. The position is criticized too much as a rule - I don’t think it has much to do with the color of the guy’s skin.
I understand why McNabb is sensitive about this, but he sounds like a crybaby.
There was a time when many did not want to see blacks starting at QB, but those times are long gone. If he wants to shut up the critics, try winning a Super Bowl. Try playing better this season than Jeff Garcia played for the Eagles last season.
I agree with - g!
I also would like to name some of the many black QB’s in the league that I know of. Here it goes excluding Mick Vick: David Garrard, Byron Leftwich, Tarvaris Jackson, Cleo Lemon, Daunte Culpepper, Jamarcus Russell, Steve McNair, Troy Smith, Jason Campbell, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Batch, D.J. Shockley, Quinn Gray, and not to mention the man who is loved by many - VINCE YOUNG.
I mean come on McNabb I think this is a bit too much of an excuse don’t you think??? - I myself still believe that he can easily pull through this funk, but please keep these comments to yourself!!! I have just named 14 black QB’s that are on a roster in the league and I don’t here them complaining about it.
It is a flat out excuse and I HATE when people play that STUPID race card!!!! And I mean ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!
Why is it that when a black athlete talks about race it is NOT playing the race card. Donovan needs to play better, and the criticisms will lessen.
The media needs to quit putting athletes/actors points of view out there! They are just playing a game/acting.
I do feel bad for Mcnabb. Here is a guy that has done so much for the city of Philadelphia. The team is always competitive for the playoffs and as far as quarterback rating he holds one of the highest ones in the league. Fans have a short memory, especially philly fans!! I know, I am one. I do appreciate what him and Andy Reid have done for our organization. Mcnabb needs to keep his head up and continue to play and get healthy and not come up with excuses that sell’s himself short because he is one of the best quarterbacks on the planet period. More importantly Philly fans need to back off a little and give the man time to heal.
The big hole in this arguement is Vick. For years he did nothing. He was explosive and could turn a game around with his feet, but he never was a great or even consistently good QB. However, Atlanta loved him. Loved him enough to trade away their backup this year to the Texans. They gave him every opportunity to succeed and make excuse after excuse in his support. The receiver he has aren’t good enough, the line doesn’t give him enough time. BLAH BLAH BLAH. Pressure on a QB has nothing to do with race. It has to do with location. McNabb is in Philly. He played terrible against a division rival. Suck it up and don’t point the finger. Good points have been made already about the Mannings, Pennington, and the likes so I don’t have to revisit that, but McNabb should be bigger than this.
Excellent points John. Vick was hammered by critics, but also could do no wrong for those who his loved his style of play.
I wish i was a black man. For the reason, any problems i come across in life, i could blame it on my skin color. Donovan McNabb probably has a better life than 99 percent of white people in this country. Oh and by the way, the NFL is just about 70 percent African-Americans. GO BEARS!!!!!!!
Because he’s black are you kidding???? I believe he is being criticized because he hasn’t measured up to the hype!!! Being a Browns fan I wouldn’t care if the QB was green as long as he could manage to win 2 games in a row!!!!