McNabb Tells HBO Black Quarterbacks Face More Criticism in NFL
Jammin909
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African-American quarterbacks face more pressure and more criticism than their white counterparts, Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb says in an interview scheduled to air on HBO on Tuesday night.
McNabb, in an interview on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," tells interviewer James Brown that African-American quarterbacks such as himself face added pressure because there are fewer black QBs -- and because some still don't want black athletes playing the position.
"There's not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra," McNabb tells HBO. "Because the percentage of us playing this position, which people didn't want us to play ... is low, so we do a little extra."
Later in the interview, Brown presses McNabb on criticism of his performance -- and if African-American QBs are graded more harshly.
"I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, [mimicking] 'Ah, he could've made this throw, they would have scored if he did this,' " McNabb tells HBO.
"Doesn't every quarterback go through that?" Brown asks.
"Not everybody," McNabb replies.
Brown then asks if the media is tougher on him than on white quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning.
"Let me start by saying I love those guys," McNabb tells HBO. "But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't."
In the interview, McNabb also talks to Brown about playing in Philadelphia, a city known for passionate sports fans who aren't afraid to criticize the city's pro athletes.
"Every year I'm part of some criticism," McNabb tells HBO. "But every day that we go through life, you're faced with a lot of adversity. Now the answer is how do you handle the adversity. How do you respond?
"I try to handle myself with class. I try to handle myself with dignity. I think sometimes people look to players to act out, speak loudly, pretty much be an idiot. But that's not me."
McNabb, in an interview on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," tells interviewer James Brown that African-American quarterbacks such as himself face added pressure because there are fewer black QBs -- and because some still don't want black athletes playing the position.
"There's not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra," McNabb tells HBO. "Because the percentage of us playing this position, which people didn't want us to play ... is low, so we do a little extra."
Later in the interview, Brown presses McNabb on criticism of his performance -- and if African-American QBs are graded more harshly.
"I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, [mimicking] 'Ah, he could've made this throw, they would have scored if he did this,' " McNabb tells HBO.
"Doesn't every quarterback go through that?" Brown asks.
"Not everybody," McNabb replies.
Brown then asks if the media is tougher on him than on white quarterbacks such as Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning.
"Let me start by saying I love those guys," McNabb tells HBO. "But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't."
In the interview, McNabb also talks to Brown about playing in Philadelphia, a city known for passionate sports fans who aren't afraid to criticize the city's pro athletes.
"Every year I'm part of some criticism," McNabb tells HBO. "But every day that we go through life, you're faced with a lot of adversity. Now the answer is how do you handle the adversity. How do you respond?
"I try to handle myself with class. I try to handle myself with dignity. I think sometimes people look to players to act out, speak loudly, pretty much be an idiot. But that's not me."
The less you know, the more you believe.
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Comments
He is 0-2 this season, gets hurt every other season, and overthrow/underthrows receivers by 5 yards even when he is healthy.
This is a results related issue, not a race issue. I will be at the Lions game this weekend and if they lose and I BOO, it will be a performance related BOO, not becuase I want to see more white players on the field. I want to see a W.
Odd how guys like Steve McNair don't get criticized, but McNabb does. Right.
*disclaimer
I am not criticizing mcnabb or the eagles because of race.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
Ain't that the truth, Philly is tough tough town unlike in Boston where I believe they give more lee-way.
That interview was given before the season right?
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
What do people always say about Dan Marino? "He was one of the best QB's, but he never won a Super Bowl.
Also, hasn't Joey Harrington been treated pretty badly???
I'm a Jets fan. I can't believe the Jets fans that cheered when Pennington got hurt in game one this season.
Point - I think QB's just get treated badly in general if you lose.......regardless of what race you are.
Not that it makes his comments any better, but he taped this interview BEFORE the season started..
and he's insane. Rush limbaugh (no, i dont listen to, or like rush limbaugh) got fired and vilified from ESPN from indicating that black QB's had it a little easier... Donovan is implying the same thing- only the opposite reasoning- yet i highly doubt this will prevent him from getting a job in the ESPN studio when his career is over.
The only reason I am not totally dismissing this is because all I have heard thus far is a bunch of white people talking about it. I don't know if there is a difference (stealing the mike and mike discussion this morning) in terms of racial mail and stuff that he gets. There is probably some. If it happens a lot then, he may have a point (so, again stealing from mike and mike), though that is maybe "different" or "worse" criticsim. I am sure he hears N-bombs from fans and gets them in the mail.
As far as general booing and media criticism in Philly, my suspician is that it is all because of performance. I have had him for years in a fantasy keeper league and he puts up good numbers, but the people there want a super bowl win and they see it slipping away.
Black QBs used to be shyed away from. Then as they became more common, they remained under more of a microscope "you can't win with a black QB." But now there are a lot of black starting QBs and I think we are just used to it. One was picked first overall in the draft. And as that has happened, I think the praise and criticsism has drifted toward general colorblindness.
Now that I have agreed with everyone else 80%, but left a shread of doubt, let's see how much I get flamed and just how black and white (no pun intended) this is.
Doug Williams is an honorary white person.
He was harshly treated when Philly passed on Ricky Williams and chose him
He cited race when negotiating his rookie contract
He's paranoid about them drafting Kolb too.
Just shut the hell up and play. I like the guy, and I'm not even a Philly fan. I always thought he was a clutch QB, but P.Manning was abused by the media for never beating NE up in NE .
Untill their will grows tired
I'm not naive, and I'm not African American or "white." I know racism exists. but in sports, just like anything else, I really just want results. this was a big issue when the Cubs dropped Dusty for Lou, and then last year in the Super Bowl. I honestly never even thought about Lovie being black until the media brought it up every day for 2 weeks. and for the Cubs, I dont care if the manager is black, white or a blue Papa Smurf, i will love you if you win the World Series for us.
If McNabb wasnt being such a baby now, I would love to have him on the Bears next year.
"In your case, I'll check my brain at the door and we'll start even, okay?"
Have you thanked a taper today?
Proof that god exists? The Bears made it to the Super Bowl last year with no quarterback.