Why is it that Football Fans can’t leave my man Donovan McNabb alone.  As a West Virginia University Student I got the pleasure of watching both Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick play against us for Syracuse and Virginia Tech respectively and have always been a fan.  Especially because I know how hard it is for a black quarterback.  Now Vick’s locked up and Philadelphia is once again calling for McNabb’s head after an 0-2 start.  Well on HBO Sports this week, McNabb, usually quiet quarterback stuck back by claiming that black quarterbacks face greater scrutiny than their white counterparts.

In the piece which will air next Tuesday, McNabb told Real Sports, Bryant Gumbel that 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.”

Asked by sportscaster (and fellow DeMatha H.S. graduate) James Brown if white quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer are held to the same standards, McNabb replied: “Let me start by saying, I love those guys. But they don’t get criticized as much as we do. They don’t.”

He’s right unfortunately.  I think we got a false sense when the NFL recently inducted Warren Moon into the Hall.  Many people thought the black QB had made it.  But football is a fickle game and sadly the problem extends beyond Quarterbacks.  Look at Tyrone Willingham (Black) former coach at Notre Dame.  He got 3 years to turn around that program which he was doing but not fast enough and was bounced in favor of Charlie Weis (White.)  Now after 3 years and the Irish off to an 0-3 start being shut out in thier last game people are wondering if Weis will fall victim to the same standard.  Of course not.

We’re expected to always do more.  Vince Young can run the offense, scramble and keep drives alive but is criticised for his throwing motion or ability to throw the deep pass.  WHO CARES?!  He’s a winner but that’s never good enough.  Bill Belichick gets caught cheating and taping the Jets sideline signals and its almost like an afterthought the next week, while the black players, Vick, Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and Tank Johnson all remain in purgatory following prolonged suspensions.  McNabb is one of the good guys, a talented player who faught back from a devestating knee injury just to give his team, town a chance to win and he’s being killed unbelievable. 

Watch the McNabb Interview on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel