BREAKING: contributor list down to 9

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

There is no question that race has played a factor at QB in NFL history. Same with MLB, FS, and C. As far as Williams in particular - and remember - Tampa was 2-26 before Doug Williams got there. And Hugh Culverhouse Jr. thought Williams' contract requests were fair. In fact, he later tried to rectify things.

Via the Tampa Bay Times:

"Fortunes changed for a time when the Bucs spent a first-round draft pick on Williams. Black quarterbacks didn't start in the NFL, but McKay wanted the Grambling star. The Bucs rode Williams' arm to the NFC Championship Game in 1979 and to two more playoff appearances.

In 1983, Williams asked for a raise from $120,000 to $600,000 a year. Culverhouse Sr. stood firm at $400,000. Williams jumped to the United States Football League. A skein of 14 consecutive losing seasons ensued for the Bucs.

Culverhouse Jr. still winces at the thought. Last year, he dug into his own pocket and offered an atonement for his father's sin: a $1-million gift to the Grambling State University football program, where Williams is coach.

"He deserved better," Culverhouse Jr. said."

Also, remember that Warren Moon had to go to Canada to play QB. After upsetting Michigan and winning the MVP in the Rose Bowl. How many Black QBs were in the NFL when Moon finally got there? One. Warren Moon.

Things have changed so much that it's difficult to remember the stigma against Blacks at quarterback and other positions.

[readjack]

"A team drafts him but doesn't want him?" You can draft someone and still undervalue them. The key man who got Tampa to draft Williams in the 1st round was offensive coordinator Joe Gibbs, who then went to San Diego in Williams's second season. Gibbs of course then became Washington's head coach and brought Williams back from the USFL.

I don't know why you're acting like the NFL doesn't have a history of racism and that white executives didn't apply anti-Black sentiments into their decisions around quarterbacks and head coaches. Warren Moon won the Rose Bowl and still had to go to Canada to play quarterback. He didn't get back into the NFL until he won five Grey Cups. When Williams went to the USFL, the only Black head coach in NFL history was still Fritz Pollard. This isn't a "false race card." It's not even a race card. It's just the facts of the NFL during Williams's career.

[Brian wolf]

How Joe Ferguson was the highest paid QB, is anyones'guess? Either a hell of an agent or some tenure clause for starting?

James Harris had an owner in Rosenbloom who didnt support him and never reached his potential. The owners can get away with racism all they want but the player still has to perform.
Marlin Briscoe had more TD passes as a rookie with Denver than John Elway but went back to receiving the following year with another team. Had he had support and more development at QB, could Lou Saban had won more games and kept his job?

Like Jack says, racism happened but Williams had every chance to succeed wherever he has been. Only until the end of 1987, did he ever reach his potential. I felt Doug had one of the strongest arms in NFL history but he was erratic as well. Accuracy has probably held back more QBs who are black, than anything else but until Warren Moon(maybe Harris or Gilliam as well) most QBs didnt fight enough to stay a QB over converting to receiver or defensive back. Kordell Stewart could do anything, including being a RB but didnt have the accuracy to succeed long at QB. Neither did Vince Young, who everyone thought had staying power.

[Brian wolf]

You misread my statement, Sonny9 ...

I agreed with Jack about racism happening in the PAST. Hell, George Preston Marshall was racist and in the HOF, while rumors of racism has kept Buddy Parker out. I never associated it with Williams or Briscoe. It could have happened with Harris and Rosenbloom, but like you said, Carroll didnt like Jaworski as well. There might not have been racism involving Briscoe also. The Broncos probably didnt think he was good enough to develop at QB or receiver, so he went to Buffalo instead.

I agree with what you said, the race card shouldnt be used with these players. Like I said, its about performance, and lack of accuracy has hurt alot of QBs, regardless of race.

Cant remember who said it, I thought it was Troy Aikman, but he felt if Donovan McNabb was more accurate, he would be in the HOF. That may be true, but its hard to be accurate when many of his receivers were pedestrian and couldnt separate from coverage.

Thats what hurts McNabb, Cunningham and McNair from making the HOF. These guys simply did not have enough weapons to work with. They had to rely more on tight ends and running backs because they didnt have the receivers to make them better. Owens, Carter, Moss and Mason were only with these QBs for a short time.