Jimmy Chitwood
Hall of Famer
there are some really good posts in this thread post-draft. there are also sooooo many White players who went undrafted that are either more physically-gifted than the black draft picks, more productive than the black draft picks, or both more physically-gifted AND more productive than the black draft picks. if the mantras "the best players play" and "winning is all that matters" were true, one must "wonder" how none of this seems to matter to the "talent" "scouts" who "evaluate" the "potential" as collegiate players are projected for the next level.
"somehow" a black player from a power conference with marginal physical tools but solid production is often considered a legitimate prospect for the next level. similarly, a black player with impressive measurables but virtually no on-field production is considered to be brimming with upside and is a virtual lock to be drafted ... even if said prospect has numerous "off-field issues" or played at a small college.(the yearly Raider draft debacle comes to mindwith the latter scenario.) a black player with both ideal physical tools AND on-field dominance is an instant millionaire.
conversely, White players (even those who fit the third category) are often completely ignored, especially if they play in a "black" position. the anecdotal evidencefrom the cases ofboth Dane Sanzenbacher and Jeff Maehl in this year's Draft is simply the most recent of myriad examples one could provide with but cursory research. when high profile, BCS conference record-setters are ignored thanks to the Caste System, what does it say about the chances for small-school guys who dominate AND put up monster measurables?
in the last couple of years, we have begun to see cracks in the Caste System. however, the system will not succumb without a struggle. the 2011 NFL Draft provides poignant illustration of how much work is left to be done.
"somehow" a black player from a power conference with marginal physical tools but solid production is often considered a legitimate prospect for the next level. similarly, a black player with impressive measurables but virtually no on-field production is considered to be brimming with upside and is a virtual lock to be drafted ... even if said prospect has numerous "off-field issues" or played at a small college.(the yearly Raider draft debacle comes to mindwith the latter scenario.) a black player with both ideal physical tools AND on-field dominance is an instant millionaire.
conversely, White players (even those who fit the third category) are often completely ignored, especially if they play in a "black" position. the anecdotal evidencefrom the cases ofboth Dane Sanzenbacher and Jeff Maehl in this year's Draft is simply the most recent of myriad examples one could provide with but cursory research. when high profile, BCS conference record-setters are ignored thanks to the Caste System, what does it say about the chances for small-school guys who dominate AND put up monster measurables?
in the last couple of years, we have begun to see cracks in the Caste System. however, the system will not succumb without a struggle. the 2011 NFL Draft provides poignant illustration of how much work is left to be done.