I am sure this has been a topic of discussion in the past but I was listening to Sports Talk Radio yesterday and the usual hooplah surrounding the upcoming Texas-OU game and the topic turns to Vince Young. Well, the hosts weren't saying anything out of the ordinary but then one of them made the comparison that Young reminded them of Randall Cunningham. Ok fair enough. However, in the last decade or so, whenever a young, black quarterback emerges in the colleege ranks, I only hear announcers comparing them to former black quarterbcks. When Michael Vick came in, his game was like Kordell's Stewart's, only better. With Donovan McNabb, and maybe it is the Philly connection, he was compared to Randall Cunningham ad nauseum. With Culpepper, he was the next Warren Moon.

 

The question I pose is ... why aren't they being compared to great white quarterbacks? Are the announcers just lazy and find it easier to compare blacks to blacks? Seriously, I never hear the great black quarterbacks compared to Elway, Marino, Unitas or Montana... only other black quarterbacks. Is there still the misconception that white quarterbacks are more intelligent while black QBs are just superior athletes? It bothers me because I think we pigeonhole these athletes into stereotypes, or at least the media does, and I consider it lazy journalism. Seriously, when was the last time you heard a white quarterback compared with Moon or Cunningham? Discuss.

It's lazy journalism and maybe it is easier to speak on and compare people based on their color rather than their actual ability and/or accomplishments. But then again, what black quarterback has achieved the type of success that Elway or Montana have? Maybe when one does, you'll start to hear those comparisons. It's funny that people always compare the new black quarterbacks to Cunningham and Moon so readily but when I think of successful black quarterbacks (and this may have a lot to do with me living in the area I do) but I think of Doug Williams. I NEVER hear him mentioned at all and he won a ring.

On the flip side, it's hard to say a black QB sucks without being called racist. When Kordell was obviously not going to fit with the Steelers anymore, there were people saying he was only being let go because he was black and not because he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn anymore.

 

For example, I think Michael Vick is a phenominal athlete but a subpar QB. He's bascially the closest the NFL will allow to an option QB. NFL defenses really aren't equipped to handle an option type guy and that's why he's able to rip off 40+ yard runs. He gives Atlanta a dimension no other team has, but strictly on QB merit I don't think he's all that and a bag of chips.

How many white QBs are known as running QBs, the only person that fits the prototype is Jake Plummer.

 

what black quarterback has achieved the type of success that Elway or Montana have?

I can only think of Doug Williams of the Redskins since he is the only black QB to win the Superbowl.

I'm curious, whom did everyone compair Steve McNair to? If he was compared to an injury prone, overrated athlete, white or black, then they pretty much hit the nail on the head.

 

I still can't believe he won Co-MVP.

 

I really am curious whom he was compared to though. Does anyone know?

but I think of Doug Williams. I NEVER hear him mentioned at all and he won a ring.

Because most of his career was in Tampa, where he was nothing special. Except the season after the Super Bowl, he hardly played in Washington. Plus, even in his best days, he was one of the most inaccurate QB's ever.

 

Seriously, when was the last time you heard a white quarterback compared with Moon or Cunningham? Discuss.

Losman got some comparisons to Shaun King (obviously), Ron Mexico, and Cunningham.

 

With the exception of McNair and maybe Akili Smith, I can't think of a high profile college QB who didn't run the option. That makes it difficult.

 

There should be more black QB's compared to Tarkenton, and more white QB's compared to Moon... although he did run sometimes, he wasn't noted for being a scrambler.

There is a tendency to compare physical traits as well as skills. And certainly, there are many legitimate similarities between Donovan McNabb and Randall Cunningham, and that they both played prominantly for the Eagles cinches it. Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick may be the same race, but one can not deny that they share a similar style. But to a point, CJ is right. How many of you can identify the quarterback who is second in rushing yards behind Michael Vick (it's David Carr)? Some good statistical tools could solve this dilemma, but football doesn't have the devices that baseball benefits from.

It depends from situation to situation.

 

 

I'd actually compare Vick to Randall Cunningham because both have reputations for being good scramblers.

 

 

Culpepper and Warren Moon is a somewhat apt comparison because both were known for putting up a lot of yardage and for arm strength. This comparison is also put into perspective when you consider that Moon was brought in as the Vikings QB a few years before Culpepper was drafted.

 

 

As for McNabb, I'm unsure of who to compare him to offhand. I'd have to think of a QB who found a way to win consistantly at a high level despite a lack of high-calibre receiving talent and backfield talent for the most part.

 

(TO, a somewhat recent addition to the Eagles, is the only true top-flight offensive talent they've had besides McNabb himself.)

 

I'm spacing a little on a QB to compare him to, but I'd say Fran Tarkenton may be an appropriate one. Like McNabb, Tarkenton put up some gaudy numbers in his time and went deep into the playoffs, but he never won the Super Bowl.

 

 

 

 

As for Doug Williams, I find it hard to judge him as a player due to my second-hand experiences in dealing with him in on the coaching level, in which he's been a real asshole.

 

Doug Williams is from Pride, LA, which is a suburb of Baton Rouge, and once his NFL career ended, he became the coach of Northeast High School in Pride, which was his alma mater. Northeast also happened to be one of my school's district rivals for nearly 20 years, until they were finally moved up a classification this year.

 

(Williams had left to be the coach at Grambling early in my HS career, but my coaches had shared their observations on him having dealt with him during his time at Northeast)

 

 

Williams and his assistants did not get along with the other coaches in the district and did things such as throwing a hissy fit over one of his players not getting on the First Team of the All-District selections.

 

He stormed out of the room after that, at which point the rest of the coaches decided that none of the rest of his players would make the First Team due to his poor behavior.

 

 

I think his attitude also spilled over to his players, as they weren't above taking cheap-shots at our guys. One of our guards could barely see straight after a few series against them, as they would constantly go for his eyes when attempting to rush the QB.

But then again, what black quarterback has achieved the type of success that Elway or Montana have?

Warren Moon threw for 49,325 yards, 291 TDs and 233 INTs. He was also a career 58.4 passer. He actually wasn't that big of a runner. He ranks 4th all time in yards, 4th in completions, 4th in pass atempts and 5th in passing TDs. He never made it to the Super Bowl but it's an extremely successful career.

 

As far as Vince Young he has to be the most overrated QB in college football right now. I'll tell you exactly who he reminds me of..... Eric Crouch. Can run decently but can't throw to save his life. If he wins the Heisman it'll be as big a joke as when Crouch won it a few years ago.

Mad Dog,

 

Do the stats you list include Moon's stats from the USFL? If not, you may want to add those separately...

 

The man put up HUGE numbers in that league but was initially written off by NFL fans as playing against inferior competition. He changed that mindset when he came in as the QB for the Oilers.

I am not syaing that the comparisons are not valid. What I am implying is that rather than look at the numbers and determine who matches up with who, I think the sports media is lazy and it is easy to say that a black quarterback reminds them of Cunningham or Moon simply because they are also black rather than do some real research and find a closer comparison who would happen to be white.

Warren Moon was my favorite player when I was growing up, which is odd because I wasn't an Oilers fan at all.

As for McNabb, I'm unsure of who to compare him to offhand. I'd have to think of a QB who found a way to win consistantly at a high level despite a lack of high-calibre receiving talent and backfield talent for the most part.

John Elway and Dan Marino won pretty consistently without having anything around them on offense.

Marino may be a good comparison then, although I tend to think of Peyton Manning as being the current incarnation of Marino.

Nah, Manning has too much talent around him. Marino's TD season was a lot more impressive because he was throwing to nobodies.

Mad Dog,

 

Do the stats you list include Moon's stats from the USFL?  If not, you may want to add those separately...  

 

The man put up HUGE numbers in that league but was initially written off by NFL fans as playing against inferior competition.  He changed that mindset when he came in as the QB for the Oilers.

There was also the CFL which he and the Edmonton Eskimos dominated.

How many of you can identify the quarterback who is second in rushing yards behind Michael Vick (it's David Carr)?

Last year, it was Culpepper. Carr was 3rd.

 

And, actually, if Garcia wasn't hurt, he'd have replaced Joey Suckington, and would lead... as a starter for SF, he was the leading white running QB for years.