September 18, 200719 yr http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3025308 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 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."
September 18, 200719 yr While I don't agree on everything McNabb said, some of his thoughts seem to be correct. When thinking about the biggest black QBs of all-time (Doug Williams, McNabb, McNair, Warren Moon), many of them are rarely put in that GREAT category. Moon made the HOF and was consistent for years, yet few are given the crown in the media. At the end of the day, no matter what color or position you are, if you play hard and do well, you tend to get respect.
September 18, 200719 yr puhhhleeaze. live in rex grossmans shoes for one day and tell me how bad you have it donovan
September 18, 200719 yr Bye Donovan....i'm ready to get rid of him....So sick of him opening his damn mouth so much.
September 18, 200719 yr the guy is always whining about something with some kind of chip on his shoulder his points may of been relevant a time ago (including when he is in college) - but there is no way he's getting criticized more than any other QB in the league aside from a couple golden boys who get free passes (and then only favre comes to mind and it's not because he's white) seahawk fans loved warren moon and absolutely roasted matt hasselbeck in his early time - guys like dilfer have had successful careers where they get abused often unfairly - peyton manning struggled his rookie year and then all he heard was about how much he couldn't win when it counted (despite all the other wins) - phillip rivers is on the hotseat coming off a year his team won 14 games - jake plummer gets benched mid-way through the year despite having his team slotted for the playoffs - grossman is constantly grilled - lane kiffen is already calling out McCown - joey harrington is about to be replaced (by a black QB if leftwich meets well with Atlanta) welcome to life as an NFL QB in a city that is tough on all their athletes - even HOF white third basemen
September 18, 200719 yr puhhhleeaze. live in rex grossmans shoes for one day and tell me how bad you have it donovan yeah, but grossman is downright terrible. he's talking about the good quarterbacks. terrible quarterbacks, black or white, get harsh criticism all the time.
September 19, 200719 yr He's been playing in Philly for way too long, he needs to get out of there. Maybe tommie harris' wish will come true and Mcnabb will come home :mis2
September 20, 200719 yr man i'm so tired of black athletes playing the race card everytime they fu*k up.... dude just hit your fu*king recivers and shut up...
September 20, 200719 yr I think he forgets where he is playing. Black, White, Cuban, Asian, Kryptonian, Santa... You WILL get booed in Philly and you WILL get criticized. Period. Where was this talk when he was winning games and everybody was all aboard the Donovan McNabb Love Boat sponsored by Chunky Soup? Also, Chad Pennington has got to be the blackest QB ever - especially after his home team cheered when he got injured...
September 21, 200719 yr Where was this talk when he was winning games and everybody was all aboard the Donovan McNabb Love Boat sponsored by Chunky Soup? certainly not rooting for him now. they are eagles fans after all
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