Does Race still play a factor with Black Quarterbacks?

If you haven't noticed yet, but the NFL Draft is three days away and yet again the same issue is in the forefront of the draft: character. Late last week, an no-named NFL scout reported that potential #2 pick Robert Griffin III/RG3 was a "very selfish" player, with a diva attitude.  What irritates me about the whole story is that it came out with less than a week before the draft.  Where was this during the Combine or during RG3's pro day at Baylor?  The better question is where is the criticisms of Andrew Luck?  If these so-called scouts think that Luck is a sure-fire pick at #1, then they need to look at the two big games he lost the last two season against Oregon.  Not only did Luck lose those games, he was no where to be found when his team fell behind.  In simple terms, when the game was on the line, the game wasn't put in Luck's hands to go win.  Another thing that bothers me is that Todd McShay (yes that guy) was on record saying that RG3 would be a 4th string wide receiver in the NFL; pretty much saying that RG3 wouldn't cut it as a quarterback at the next level. Once again our friend Todd was wrong. RG3 won the Heisman Trophy, resurrected a doormat Baylor program, & willed his team to its first victory over annual National Champion contender Oklahoma.

The story of race and the quarterback position is getting old & tired. It's pathetic that it's 2012 & race is still being brought up when it comes to black quarterbacks.  Throughout the entire draft process of this upcoming season, I personally heard RG3 being compared to Mike Vick just because they are athletes playing quarterback.  The comparison is further from the truth.  At this stage of their respected careers, RG3 is a far better passing coming out of college than Vick was, who almost beat a powerful Florida State team in the National Championship game.  In my opinion, RG3 is in the mold of Aaron Rodgers based off the simple fact that both can beat you from the pocket first, then run as a second option.  

This issue doesn't surprise me at all because the same no-name sources & scouts in the NFL were saying the same thing about Cam Newton last season before he had a record-breaking rookie season. Stereotypes are damaging careers before they even get started.  Not all black quarterbacks are fast, undisciplined,or in RG3's case, selfish.  Before making a final say on who will be a star or bust, cut through the nonsense that the unnamed sources are giving & watch the game tapes before saying somebody is selfish.

The Iron Man: London Fletcher

If you haven't heard by now, the Washington Redskins & middle linebacker London Fletcher agreed to a new two-year contract deal over the weekend.  This ensures that Fletcher will end his career as a Redskin.  Fletcher entered the league as a undrafted free agent from Division III John Carroll University to the St. Louis Rams in 1998. 

What makes Fletcher special is he hasn't missed a game since entering the league in 1998.  He has played in over 224 consecutive games, over 1,782 tackles, 34 career sacks, & 18 career interceptions at a potition where bodies are usually destroyed by the time a player hits his early thirty's.  No, he  doesn't  dance  around like Ray Lewis or make Old Spice commercials like Brian Urlacher. All London Fletcher does is makes plays & shows up to work every day like the blue collar worker.

There's no doubt that London Fletcher is a sure shot hall of famer, with a Super Bowl title on his impressive resume, but the debate will come when he retires.  Will he go in on the first ballot like Ray Lewis will or will he get the run around like another Redskins great, Art Monk got for all those years until 2008?  The best example that comes to mind to great players in sports is Cal Ripken Jr. Cal came to work every day for 2,632 consecutive games in a sport that has over 162 games plus playoffs.  London Fletcher is pro football's Iron Man.

The Legacy of Sean Taylor

Yesterday marked the 29th birthday of the late Redskins safety Sean Taylor.  Even though he has since passed away at the age of 24, his legend has grown into mythical proportions since that dark day on November 27, 2007.  At the time of his untimely & tragic passing, Taylor was on the path to becoming the most feared & dominating safety of his generation and even possibly of all-time.  If anyone can remember the path of devastation he left at The U (in only 3 years might I add), then they knew that the NFL wasn't safe for anyone that crossed his path on the field.  Gregg Williams was once quoted saying that Taylor was the greatest natural athlete he ever had the chance to coach.  Former teammate & current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark said that Taylor was the best player he ever played along side.

There are many that will argue that Ronnie Lott was the greatest safety in NFL history, some will say Larry Wilson of the St. Louis Cardinals was the greatest or even Paul Krause of the Minnesota Vikings.  In this generation, Ed Reed gets the overall vote along side Troy Polamalu.  What set Sean Taylor apart from the safeties that I mentioned was that he wasn't one dimensional.  Some safeties can only cover, while some can only hit.  Sean was the complete package.  He could hit like a middle linebacker, but could cover a lot of space with the speed & grace of a finesse shutdown cornerback. Ed Reed is known for his play-making ability once he got his hands on the ball, but Sean wasn't far behind in that regard as well.  Whenever Taylor got his hands on the ball, something special was going to happen.  How could people forget the two fumble touchdown returns he had at the end of the '05 season & in the Wild Card playoff game against Tampa Bay? Even though he made his mistakes on & off the field, the "thug" that the media portrayed was far from it.  He was misunderstood if anything.  A reserve, quiet man, all Taylor wanted to do is play football & be a father to his newborn daughter, that's all he wanted to do.  His love for his newborn daughter Jackie changed his life completely & he found a happiness that many might search an entire life for.

What I loved about Sean Taylor's game was how rooted in the old-school it was.  If you didn't wear the same jersey, it was gonna be a long day.  He was a quiet enforcer, who had no mercy for an opponent & would let them know that if they crossed his path, they would know it.  Sean Taylor's legacy is the same as Len Bias in this area. Both were beloved by the DC metro area & their untimely deaths have affected the area in more ways than the casual out of town person sees on ESPN. The question that stays on many people's minds are "What could've been? or Would they both be legendary players in the pros?"  The day that Sean passed, I was in my first year at Frostburg State University & getting the phone call from my older brother before going to class will always stay with me.  My neighbor Marty seen me wear my Sean Taylor jersey that day & gave me a hug when I got off the elevator.  Both of us were in disbelief because the man was loved by every Redskins fan & football fan.  It's 2012 & the Redskins have yet to fill the legendary void that #21 left behind.  Taylor's #21 jersey is the last Redskins jersey that I brought & will probably stay that way for a while now.  How I think Sean Taylor should be honored by the Redskins? Retire his number along side Sammy Baugh's #33.  Its only right.