McNabb: Foot in the Mouth Part Trois

[TunaFan33]

Got this off of McNabb's blog today:

"There has been a lot of talk about the interview I did on HBO's Real Sports.
I have no apologies. I was asked a variety of questions and I answered them.
The fact that the producers and publicists at HBO decided to focus on those
answers that related to race shows that it remains a hot topic in society
today.

Let me address some feedback...

First, the interview took place in August before the season started so for
those who think I "played the race card" because we are 0-2 are dead wrong.

I did not say that Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer are not
criticized when they don't play well. They have been criticized when they
throw interceptions, when the throw incompletions, and when their teams
don't win. They are criticized and so is every other quarterback for that
matter. And that type of criticism may, in fact, be warranted. But that's
not the type of criticism that we discussed.

Black quarterbacks have to deal with different things than white
quarterbacks. If you don't think that's true than you are naïve. Peyton, Tom
and Carson to name a few, have never been asked what it's like to be a white quarterback. They probably have not been told that they should have
scrambled more. I bet Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Jake Plummer, and Doug Flutie have never been told by a member of any racial consciousness organization that they don't play the quarterback position white enough.

I would love to live in a world where race is not an issue. But it is. I did
not ask HBO to interview me but I did consent. I did not bring up the topic
of race but I didn't back down from it either. This interview was supposed
to be about how my career has been surrounded by controversy and how my
upbringing has shaped the way I have dealt with it. Unfortunately, the
interview itself has created yet another controversy.

All I did was answer the questions that were asked of me honestly and
truthfully. I had no agenda. The people of Philadelphia have criticized my
coach for not answering questions. Now I'm criticized for answering
questions. I understand if people have a different opinion or view point
than I do, I really do. I think if there is one thing I understand better
than most people - it's okay to be different. "

 

[theebs]

I think people need to get off mcnabbs back. The guy did and said nothing wrong. He does seem to be a bit of a whiner, always has but still if the philly media has nothing better to write about then shame on them.

Its sad when this is all that is on the news, sports news, coupled with Tank Johnson the criminal and OJ simpson and Bill belichick's cheating and the continuing development of the steroid issue in major league baseball.

I am pretty dissapointed in norm hitzges this week. He is really the only sports show I make a point to listen to anymore and he hasnt spent more than 10 minutes in 8 hours of being on the air this week talking about what a big game this is sunday night between two good teams. It has been all tank all the time and OJ.

Why anyone cares what OJ does that does not have the last name simpson is beyond me.

Hopefully this week will get back to football and back to the terrific baseball finish........

 

[Garland powerplay]

This remarks were made in desperation because his skills have deteriorated and he knows it. He thinks it will buy him more time but doesn't hide the fact he stinks and he knows it.

 

[CoCo]

"Black quarterbacks have to deal with different things than white
quarterbacks. If you don't think that's true than you are naïve. Peyton, Tom
and Carson to name a few, have never been asked what it's like to be a white quarterback. They probably have not been told that they should have
scrambled more. I bet Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Jake Plummer, and Doug Flutie have never been told by a member of any racial consciousness organization that they don't play the quarterback position white enough.

I would love to live in a world where race is not an issue."

I guess I'm not sure what is so offensive about being told you should scramble more?

As far as apparently being told you don't play the QB position "white enough" I guess I need a little bit more context to comment on that.

But most importantly my advice to DM would be that if you truly want to make race less of an issue then quit fueling the fire. Yes, you may be asked about it. How about giving answers that diffuse the issue rather than charge it further?

Whining about perceptions around scrambling only fuels the fire IMO.

Regarding pro football I think it would be every bit as productive to ignore further dissection of the issue, as it would to continue haranging about scrambling vs pocket, athleticism vs intellect, and the right word choices when describing a black vs a white QB.