I think it matter because black QBs don't get the same opportunities. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next 5 years if 60% of the QBs in the NFL were black.
When you are talking about filling a role as important as a franchise QB, you sure as hell better look beyond racial/cultural stereotypes and judge the player as an INDIVIDUAL. The fact that Teddy Bridgewater is black has zero impact on his ability as an NFL QB. What we do know is that the QB position is probably the most overall demanding in sports. It requires mental and physical talent and a very strong work ethic. The question is, does a QB have these traits? Cam Newton, Colin K, RG III and Warren Moon did not see the field as well as Joe Montana, Peyton Manning or Tom Brady and THAT is why they are not in that class, not because they are black. Hell, Shaub could not handle pressure, is it because he is white? Jay Shroeder and Tim Tebow were elite athletes but mediocre QB's, they were white. Teddy Bridgewater has a shot to be elite because he sees the field very well and can read defenses, coupled with a strong accurate arm and a desire to get better... Not because he is black, white or green.
GM's have nothing to do with it. Becoming an excellent NFL QB means starting early and developing. If the peewee leagues and junior highs and high school coaches aren't putting the black players at QB, then what the GM does doesn't matter - his talent pool to choose from will mostly be white. And early on, players are put in positions based on athleticism - you see it in baseball all the time with the best athletes playing SS. In football, you *need* an athlete at WR and RB, but can get away with less mobile guys at QB. And since there's a stereotype of "white = smart/non-athletic" and "black = fast/quick", where do you think the black and white players were put 30 years ago when they were kids? As that's changed over time, you see more black QBs coming up the ranks at the HS and college levels, and therefore you'll see more black QBs in the NFL.
This is a different discussion but I will only say that I do not agree with you, especially in light of the changing demographics in this country.
I really hope that this thread doesn't get shut down. I believe that ignorance is best fought by even more free speech - and that means you have to accept stupid and outrageous speech along with the good. Why are we afraid of stupid speech? Is it contagious? This question reminds me a bit of a Freakonomics case. In that examination, they looked at distinctly black names (names very rarely used by white families) and found that there was a correlation to poor life outcomes. However, as any statistician will tell you, correlation does not equal causation. It turns out that children with distinctly black names tend to come from poorer, single mothers. Parents that name their son Jake tend to come from different economic circumstances from parent(s) naming their son DeShawn. I imagine that a similar stereotype may be enforced by both black and white tribes when it comes to quarterback. (I call them tribes, since anthropologists can't find a biological or genetic basis for the sociocultural construct of race.) It would be interesting to study if children of football players tend to play the same position as their fathers. For instance, take the Mannings or the Lucks. If dad played running back or receiver does he have a tendency to teach his son those positions? Historically, black players have not played quarterback as often, there would be less bias towards that position. I believe that there is correlation of "race" to several positions, but no causation to success. Tribalism is what leads to these biases, and tribalism impedes each person from maximizing his potential.
I was just referring to the guy who seemed to say Russell and Kapernick don't count because they're biracial. Regardless of how much demographics have changed many biracial people (who are half black) are considered black. Obama is considered a black president and Halle Berry is considered a black actress. And you can disagree all you want... I speak from the experience of being biracial... Do you...?
This thread has evolved more or less exactly like I thought it would, especially once some goon like Santiago weighed in with his predictable tripe (although I think you'll agree that his being in full-bore George Wallace mode at seven in the morning is impressive). But the post I have quoted makes it all worthwhile. The poster allows glimpses into the depths of his ignorance at least every other day but seldom is the door held open wide enough to peer so deeply into the abyss.
It does. Pressure vs. actual performance, etc. Doug Williams was the only one to combine the two to his advantage, but... any quarterback regardless of race will need a good team to win it all. Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett were good HISPANIC-heritage Quarterbacks. But race DOES play a big part. Don't get me started on "Mexican-American" Tony Romo. "p Reggie Roby played for the OILERS. Marquette King is good for the Raiders (I wished the Texans had drafted him).
Can't answer cause I'm not sure what you're asking... I think it can effect the way they are percieved therefore maybe effecting who drafts them but i don't think it makes a difference on the field.
Excellent post. I think we're misunderstanding the "issue" here. Being black doesn't affect your "success", it runs deeper than that. Being black could affect your opportunity to play QB at all. There are tons of successful "White" QB's, but there are many more unsuccessful ones, does this mean race affected them too? I think that once you're in the NFL, and playing QB, for a good coach, there are MANY reasons to not succeed at being a good QB, and race is very far down the list. I wouldn't pass up on a QB just because he's black, or take a QB, just because he's white. Once that player comes into the NFL, their skin color isn't what's going to determine their success, it becomes an array of other things like, organizational success, surrounding players, surrounding coaches, motivation, play-calling...etc.
How much is race linked to socioeconomic background? I'd imagine that the more successful QBs are the ones whose parents had enough money while they were growing up to put them in private leagues, football camps, money to pay for good coaching, etc. Intuitively, I'd say that white people are as a whole still doing better off than black people, so I'd imagine race would end up playing a factor in that way.
