2008 Woodie Awards
McNabb faces criticism, not racism
Matt Rydberg
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Sports
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Since O.J. Simpson is back in the news, this becomes once again a timely cliché, "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit."
Donovan McNabb has charged media with a serious allegation - racism.
It is such a nasty word that evokes so many things with so many different people. As a white male, I am vastly under qualified to typically speak on the subject.
However, as an avid NFL junkie, as well as a fledgling member of media, I can speak a little to our collective defense.
The glove of racism doesn't fit.
McNabb says he has been overly scrutinized because he is black. Because he is black, sports media immediately jump on his case. Furthermore, he claimed white counter-parts such as Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are not subject to such intense scrutiny.
Quite a list; the career QB ratings of these three are 92.4, 94.5 and 89.3 respectively. McNabb's QB rating of 84.9 doesn't quite stack up. If he had been smart, he would have pointed to other struggling quarterbacks like Eli Manning, or Rex Grossman... except they do get hammered by the media week-in and week-out.
I'm not asserting McNabb is not a quality quarterback, he is.
He proved as much when he led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004; he has showed himself to be the bigger man as well as a diplomat during the whole Terrell Owens fiasco. McNabb is a proven quarterback. He doesn't need to whine, and he doesn't need gimmicks.
What I do believe is McNabb is mad. He is doubtlessly scared for his job, frustrated at Philly's lack of offensive tools and still regaining strength and composure from his latest injury.
He is also facing a fan base that became enamored with Jeff Garcia's surprising upstart last season, and his team's surprising second round draft pick of Kevin Kolb, the probable future franchise quarterback. Like a trial lawyer at Simpson's courtroom table, he has thrown the racism card out as an explanation to all his problems.
Donovan McNabb has charged media with a serious allegation - racism.
It is such a nasty word that evokes so many things with so many different people. As a white male, I am vastly under qualified to typically speak on the subject.
However, as an avid NFL junkie, as well as a fledgling member of media, I can speak a little to our collective defense.
The glove of racism doesn't fit.
McNabb says he has been overly scrutinized because he is black. Because he is black, sports media immediately jump on his case. Furthermore, he claimed white counter-parts such as Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are not subject to such intense scrutiny.
Quite a list; the career QB ratings of these three are 92.4, 94.5 and 89.3 respectively. McNabb's QB rating of 84.9 doesn't quite stack up. If he had been smart, he would have pointed to other struggling quarterbacks like Eli Manning, or Rex Grossman... except they do get hammered by the media week-in and week-out.
I'm not asserting McNabb is not a quality quarterback, he is.
He proved as much when he led the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004; he has showed himself to be the bigger man as well as a diplomat during the whole Terrell Owens fiasco. McNabb is a proven quarterback. He doesn't need to whine, and he doesn't need gimmicks.
What I do believe is McNabb is mad. He is doubtlessly scared for his job, frustrated at Philly's lack of offensive tools and still regaining strength and composure from his latest injury.
He is also facing a fan base that became enamored with Jeff Garcia's surprising upstart last season, and his team's surprising second round draft pick of Kevin Kolb, the probable future franchise quarterback. Like a trial lawyer at Simpson's courtroom table, he has thrown the racism card out as an explanation to all his problems.