Just some observations from training camp and preseason.
First, the Vince Young hype is going to be every bit as overplayed as the Mike/Michael Vick hype. While there have been a few realistic blurbs on fantasy sites about how Young has "struggled" (the friendly way the media describes a black player who hasn't shown much), the jock- sniffers on television went out of their way to talk about how Young had shown "flashes" during his pathetic 4-11 performance in the first preseason game. If any white QB had done what Young did, when he chucked a pass backwards over his head, as he was being sacked, he'd be a laughingstock and every lame, wannabe comedian would be talking about how there were now serious doubts about his judgment, if not his ability. Instead of this, however, I watched as the announcers ignored the fact that he'd blindly heaved the ball away towards the opposition, and concentrated instead on the very minor injury Young received on the play. What a joke.
Second, white players are still getting injured at a disproportionate rate. Brandon Stokley is somehow injured again. Yeah, the Colts really need another reason to ignore Peyton's alleged best friend in favor of a mediocre black TE. Brian Finneran is out for the season. So, just right there, you have two of the small handful of white WRs in the league who have any chance of playing already out or on the shelf for a while. I'm not even counting Drew Bennett, and his slow comeback from last season's injury. Folks, we just can't compete when the few WRs who are given somewhat of an opportunity to catch balls by the Caste System become injured at this kind of alarming rate. Counting Bennett, this means that probably about 50% of the white WRs in the league who actually might play have severe injuries (or are coming back from one). Actually, I'm being pretty generous there, because I'm not sure there are six white WRs in the league who are in the mix for real playing time, unless we include someone like Kevin Walter, Mike Furrey or David Kircus (Kevin Curtis and Joe Jurevicous being the others). Don't get me wrong- I love these guys and root for them with all my heart, but if anywhere near half the black WRs in the game had these kinds of injuries, there would be a national investigation (and teams wouldn't be able to field an offense). The fact that one of the few white first-round picks, LB Chad Greenway, has now been lost for the season with an injury (much like Dustin Fox last year), and another high pick, Dallas LB Bobby Carpenter, is already injured, just underscores my point.
The fact that guys like Cade McNown and Tim Couch are not in the league, while no-talent journeymen like Anthony Wright and Sean King continue to find regular work should make all of us realize just how screwed up this league is. Really, if it wasn't for fantasy football, I would have no interest in this nonsense. It is SO obvious! The jock-sniffers in the booth don't even try to hide it any longer. They just gush over everything that any celebrated black does, while virtually ignoring anything that any of the token white players who are actually allowed to touch the ball at all do, no matter how big a play it is (unless the white player is Brett Favre, or maybe Carson Palmer). Slow, ignorant guys with character issues like Lendale White are constantly celebrated. Any white guy with "speed" like White's wouldn't even have a chance to be a blocking FB. Despite all the hype around him, I believe White will be this year's Maurice Clarett, who he really reminds me of. The worst thugs in the league, guys like Sean Taylor and Chris Henry (who join thug veterans like Corey Dillon, Randy Moss and Ray Lewis) are never punished at all, despite breaking the law with impunity. Given the fact they are treated like royalty by our idiotic society, it is a wonder that they find the time to commit all the crimes they do.
Okay, okay- end of rant.
First, the Vince Young hype is going to be every bit as overplayed as the Mike/Michael Vick hype. While there have been a few realistic blurbs on fantasy sites about how Young has "struggled" (the friendly way the media describes a black player who hasn't shown much), the jock- sniffers on television went out of their way to talk about how Young had shown "flashes" during his pathetic 4-11 performance in the first preseason game. If any white QB had done what Young did, when he chucked a pass backwards over his head, as he was being sacked, he'd be a laughingstock and every lame, wannabe comedian would be talking about how there were now serious doubts about his judgment, if not his ability. Instead of this, however, I watched as the announcers ignored the fact that he'd blindly heaved the ball away towards the opposition, and concentrated instead on the very minor injury Young received on the play. What a joke.
Second, white players are still getting injured at a disproportionate rate. Brandon Stokley is somehow injured again. Yeah, the Colts really need another reason to ignore Peyton's alleged best friend in favor of a mediocre black TE. Brian Finneran is out for the season. So, just right there, you have two of the small handful of white WRs in the league who have any chance of playing already out or on the shelf for a while. I'm not even counting Drew Bennett, and his slow comeback from last season's injury. Folks, we just can't compete when the few WRs who are given somewhat of an opportunity to catch balls by the Caste System become injured at this kind of alarming rate. Counting Bennett, this means that probably about 50% of the white WRs in the league who actually might play have severe injuries (or are coming back from one). Actually, I'm being pretty generous there, because I'm not sure there are six white WRs in the league who are in the mix for real playing time, unless we include someone like Kevin Walter, Mike Furrey or David Kircus (Kevin Curtis and Joe Jurevicous being the others). Don't get me wrong- I love these guys and root for them with all my heart, but if anywhere near half the black WRs in the game had these kinds of injuries, there would be a national investigation (and teams wouldn't be able to field an offense). The fact that one of the few white first-round picks, LB Chad Greenway, has now been lost for the season with an injury (much like Dustin Fox last year), and another high pick, Dallas LB Bobby Carpenter, is already injured, just underscores my point.
The fact that guys like Cade McNown and Tim Couch are not in the league, while no-talent journeymen like Anthony Wright and Sean King continue to find regular work should make all of us realize just how screwed up this league is. Really, if it wasn't for fantasy football, I would have no interest in this nonsense. It is SO obvious! The jock-sniffers in the booth don't even try to hide it any longer. They just gush over everything that any celebrated black does, while virtually ignoring anything that any of the token white players who are actually allowed to touch the ball at all do, no matter how big a play it is (unless the white player is Brett Favre, or maybe Carson Palmer). Slow, ignorant guys with character issues like Lendale White are constantly celebrated. Any white guy with "speed" like White's wouldn't even have a chance to be a blocking FB. Despite all the hype around him, I believe White will be this year's Maurice Clarett, who he really reminds me of. The worst thugs in the league, guys like Sean Taylor and Chris Henry (who join thug veterans like Corey Dillon, Randy Moss and Ray Lewis) are never punished at all, despite breaking the law with impunity. Given the fact they are treated like royalty by our idiotic society, it is a wonder that they find the time to commit all the crimes they do.
Okay, okay- end of rant.
