Local NAACP head stands by criticism of McNabb

[Lorena]

If this has been posted already, my apologies, but after hearing this on the Dan Patrick Show, all I can say is, what the hell kind of crap is this? McNabb has played on a broken leg, and is the one of the toughest QBs in the league. Warren Moon was a pocket quarterback and shattered many records. This guy needs to shut his piehole before he makes a bigger ass out of himself. :mad:

----------------------------------------------
Local NAACP head stands by critisism of McNabb (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-eagles-mcnabb-naacp&prov=ap&type=lgns)


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Donovan McNabb is still taking shots -- the latest from an NAACP leader who criticized the quarterback's leadership skills and said he "played the race card" in explaining why he no longer runs the ball.

J. Whyatt Mondesire, who publishes a newspaper for blacks and is the president of the Philadelphia branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, recently wrote that the Eagles' star quarterback failed as a team leader and choked in the Super Bowl.

McNabb responded sharply, but Mondesire hasn't changed his stance.

"He doesn't get it," Mondesire said Wednesday. "If he got it, I wouldn't have written the article."

Mondesire, publisher of the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, criticized McNabb in a column in his newspaper on Dec. 4.

He wrote that McNabb's tendency to run the ball early in his career "not only confused defenses, it also thrilled Eagles fans," but that abandoning that element "by claiming that 'everybody expects black quarterbacks to scramble' not only amounts to a breach of faith but also belittles the real struggles of black athletes who've had to overcome real racial stereotypcasting in addition to downright segregation."

Mondesire said the bottom line is that McNabb is "not that good."

"In essence Donny, you are mediocre at best," Mondesire wrote. "And trying to disguise that fact behind some concocted reasoning that African American quarterbacks who can scramble and who can run the ball are somehow lesser field generals ... is more insulting off the field than on."

McNabb was stunned by Mondesire's comments.

"Obviously, if it's someone else who is not African American, it's racism," McNabb told reporters attending his annual holiday party last Saturday. "But when someone of the same race talks about you because you're selling out because you're not running the ball, it goes back to, 'What are we really talking about here?'

"If you talk about my play, that's one thing. When you talk about my race, now we've got problems. If you're trying to make a name off my name, again, I hope your closet is clean because something is going to come out about you ... I always thought the NAACP supported African Americans and didn't talk bad about them. Now you learn a little bit more."

McNabb's season ended last month when he decided to have surgery for a sports hernia. It's been a miserable year for the five-time Pro Bowl selection, starting with his feud with now-banished wideout Terrell Owens.

Mondesire wrote that McNabb shared the blame for Owens' departure.

"Finally, your failure as a team leader off the field to my mind did as much as anything to exacerbate the debacle that has become synonymous with T.O.'s full name."

Mondesire said the article expressed his opinion of McNabb, not the view of the NAACP. When Rush Limbaugh said on ESPN two years ago that McNabb is overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed, the NAACP criticized the conservative commentator and called on him to quit. Limbaugh resigned from ESPN three days later.

Mondesire said McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, called him after the story appeared. He returned the call twice, but hasn't spoken to McNabb.

McNabb had a strong start this season, throwing for 1,333 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading the Eagles to a 3-1 record. But he was bothered by injuries and struggled over the next several games before going on injured reserve.

McNabb clearly wasn't the same quarterback who led the Eagles to the NFC championship game the last four years. He threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter in each of his last three games, and had nine picks this season.

Overall, McNabb passed for 2,507 yards, 16 TDs and had a passer rating of 85.0 this season. McNabb was reluctant to leave the pocket this year. He had just 55 yards rushing on 25 carries, including several kneel-downs.

McNabb's problems with Owens dominated the headlines most of the year. Their issues began when Owens dissed McNabb after the Eagles lost to New England in the Super Bowl last February. The two didn't speak for a prolonged period, but performed well on the field together.

Owens was suspended last month for a series of infractions and critical public comments about McNabb and the organization, dating back to his offseason demands for a new contract. An arbitrator later upheld the Eagles' decision to deactivate him for the remainder of the season.

[Riggins44]

I'm a Redskins fan and I like the guy. Wish everyone would just leave the guy alone.

[Karlifornia]

Wow, that guy is totally idiotic. I think the NAACP was actually set up by white people to make black people look dumb, because I haven't heard anything of value come out of the NAACP in years.

[ThunderingHERD]

The guy seems to be suggesting that McNabb has said that he stopped running because he didn't want to be thought of as a black quarterback. If that were the case, then I guess he'd kind of have a point.

[Young Drachma]

The guy that wrote the column also publishes the Philadelphia Sun and I think he just wanted to sell papers or get people to talk about his paper. I see no other reason that he's writing this article. The guy is a tool, plain and simple and basically tells us why he'll never get elected to Congress if he runs next year and why the NAACP is irrelevant. Get a clue and do something useful.

[MrBigglesworth]

Andy Reid doesn't want McNabb to run, so he doesn't get any more injured than he already is.

[Ben E Lou]

Basically, the guy is saying that McNabb "isn't black enough" because he doesn't scramble as much any more.

Joe Frazier wasn't black enough. He was the white man's champ. The House Nigger.
Clarence Thomas isn't black enough.
Making good grades in school isn't black enough.
Speaking correct English isn't black enough.

We've heard this before. Interesting that anyone is surprised.

[Young Drachma]

Basically, the guy is saying that McNabb "isn't black enough" because he doesn't scramble as much any more.

Joe Frazier wasn't black enough. He was the white man's champ. The House Nigger.
Clarence Thomas isn't black enough.
Making good grades in school isn't black enough.
Speaking correct English isn't black enough.

We've heard this before. Interesting that anyone is surprised.

I think it's more annoying than it is surprising. At least for me. It's like "great, more of this stupid stuff." The fact that ol' dude is some sort of wanna-be prominent leader type, makes it even more obnxious.

[larrymcg421]

Wow, there sure are alot of teams that would love to have a QB putting up an 85.0 QB rating and have it be considered a bad year.

[TroyF]

Basically, the guy is saying that McNabb "isn't black enough" because he doesn't scramble as much any more.

Joe Frazier wasn't black enough. He was the white man's champ. The House Nigger.
Clarence Thomas isn't black enough.
Making good grades in school isn't black enough.
Speaking correct English isn't black enough.

We've heard this before. Interesting that anyone is surprised.


Only surprise I have is from the source. This guy should be ashamed of what he wrote. It's a travesty. I only hope the clown gets about a half a million canceled subscriptions of his paper tomorrow.

[Raiders Army]

I believe he was half-right in that McNabb choked in the Superbowl.

But I have to give McNabb some props when it came down to this year. Maybe the reason why he didn't run is because he was playing with a sports hernia, an injury that would take out 99.9% of the NFL players?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wow, there sure are alot of teams that would love to have a QB putting up an 85.0 QB rating and have it be considered a bad year.

If you want to defend McNabb, I don't know that pointing out a stat where he's 14th in the league is the best way to go.

[stevew]

Only surprise I have is from the source. This guy should be ashamed of what he wrote. It's a travesty. I only hope the clown gets about a half a million canceled subscriptions of his paper tomorrow.

Does his paper even have that type of circulation? It sounded to me like its a rag, and from a brief listing of newspapers with their circulation numbers, its not even in the top 200(on the list i found). The main paper in philly is the inquirer.

[Ben E Lou]

Does his paper even have that type of circulation? It sounded to me like its a rag, and from a brief listing of newspapers with their circulation numbers, its not even in the top 200(on the list i found). The main paper in philly is the inquirer.Probably the local black newspaper. Most major cities have at least one.

[Ben E Lou]

Yup. Front page of their web site has an advert for blacksbuyingblack.com and a link to hirediversity.com

[JonInMiddleGA]

Does his paper even have that type of circulation? It sounded to me like its a rag, and from a brief listing of newspapers with their circulation numbers, its not even in the top 200(on the list i found). The main paper in philly is the inquirer.

Try 20,000 circulation (at least that's it according to a p.r. reference (http://www.nccommerce.com/tourism/newsletter/newslink/NL113005.pdf) to the paper.

[stevew]

Try 20,000 circulation (at least that's it according to a p.r. reference (http://www.nccommerce.com/tourism/newsletter/newslink/NL113005.pdf) to the paper.

This guy is planning to run for the house, from what i've read. People want to talk all kinds of shit about crazy ass republicans, but Big City democrats are even more scary, especially when they come from some inefficient city like Philly. They are as out of touch with reality as anyone the right has to offer.

[QuikSand]

McNabb has certainly had to deal with more of this kind of tripe than any athlete I can remember. Strange.

[Kodos]

McNabb has certainly had to deal with more of this kind of tripe than any athlete I can remember. Strange.

That's just what I was going to post. Does Tim Dwight get picked on for being too fast for a white guy?

[Fonzie]

The curse of Campbell's Soup strikes again!

[albionmoonlight]

McNabb has certainly had to deal with more of this kind of tripe than any athlete I can remember. Strange.
Like Kodos, I was going to post this, too. Maybe deep down we are all just scared and confused by a balding afro. We just don't know what to make of it.

To get to SkyDog's point (and I realize that this may bring out the trolls, but I am curious)--what is it about certain successful black people that causes some of them to get the "White" label and others not?

Justice Thomas certainly has it.

Joe Frazer had it, from what I have heard.

Bill Cosby started to get it after his comments.

But, from what I can tell, Tiger Woods does not, even though he is half Asian.

And Michael Jordan does not, even though he refused to help out a black man who was running in North Carolina against Jessie Helms (who had run an (allegedly) racist ad during the campaign), saying something like "Republicans buy shoes, too."

And Oprah does not, even though I imagine that most of the audience for her flagship property is white women.

So, if people can keep the discussion civil, I am curious--we all note SkyDog's point generally. But, on a more specific level, what makes some successful black people get called "white," while other successful black people do not?

[Warhammer]

Joe Frazier wasn't black enough. He was the white man's champ. The House Nigger.
Clarence Thomas isn't black enough.
Making good grades in school isn't black enough.
Speaking correct English isn't black enough.

We've heard this before. Interesting that anyone is surprised.

My question is why do these things carry a stigma? What do you have to do to be black enough?

I ask because one of my best friends in college was black and from a neighborhood a couple of blocks from Cabrini Green in Chicago. The kid helped his parents pay for prep school and go to college. He graduates and gets a good advertising job.

Yet, during college other blacks would shoot him and another of his friends who was black and in med school evil looks. You would occassionally hear epithets that they would hurl their way when they went to the bathroom and stuff. Why all the hatred against people trying to do their best?

I don't understand. :confused:

[Raiders Army]

Other than this guy being from Philly, why didn't he go after Vick instead of McNabb? Hasn't Vick "become" more of a pocket QB than McNabb, and he didn't have a sports hernia to boot.

[Bonegavel]

Other than this guy being from Philly, why didn't he go after Vick instead of McNabb? Hasn't Vick "become" more of a pocket QB than McNabb, and he didn't have a sports hernia to boot.I would say no, Vick has not become more of one than McNabb.

I watch eagles week in and week out and McNabb NEVER runs anymore.

[aimed at the phila article author]
I'm as frustrated as the next eagles fan, but let the man heal for god's sake.

[Wolfpack]

My question is why do these things carry a stigma? What do you have to do to be black enough?

I ask because one of my best friends in college was black and from a neighborhood a couple of blocks from Cabrini Green in Chicago. The kid helped his parents pay for prep school and go to college. He graduates and gets a good advertising job.

Yet, during college other blacks would shoot him and another of his friends who was black and in med school evil looks. You would occassionally hear epithets that they would hurl their way when they went to the bathroom and stuff. Why all the hatred against people trying to do their best?

I don't understand. :confused:

I'll jump into the fray and offer a fairly unsubstantiated opinion (being a southern white male, it's less than unsubstantiated, even... ;) ). I think it's jealousy and, more importantly, human nature, especially in a competitive society. To make yourself look better, you're willing to tear down someone else if you have to. For whatever reason, this seems to be the tack many (not all, but a fair number) blacks seem to take, cloaking it in "acting white" and other disparaging remarks to put a racial sell-out emphasis on their disparagement.

It's not unlike how the success of children could be regarded by their parents. Some parents want and hope their kids do better than they did. Others, however, resent that their kid is better than they are ("showing up the old man" as it were). It's just one of those peculiarities of human nature. If we can't succeed, others must fail.

[Noop]

If you want to defend McNabb, I don't know that pointing out a stat where he's 14th in the league is the best way to go.
http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[johnnyshaka]

I watch eagles week in and week out and McNabb NEVER runs anymore.

True...McNabb has been running less and less every year, but his passing numbers have been getting better and better during that time as well. Coincidently, the Eagles' records have also gotten better during that time. Hmmm...maybe McNabb is onto something.

Love McNabb and hate to see all the crap he's had to deal with...simply ridiculous, especially when he's a guy who tries to fly under the radar and say all the right things and the critics still find a way to bad mouth him.

Why aren't there any racial activists out there jumping on guys like T.O. who, week in and week out, make absolute asses of themselves?? Mind boggling.

[JonInMiddleGA]

True...McNabb has been running less and less every year, but his passing numbers have been getting better and better during that time as well. Coincidently, the Eagles' records have also gotten better during that time.


Umm ... are we talking about the Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb? Because, if we are ...

Eagles Wins 2001-2005(proj)
11-12-12-13-6
McNabb Rushing Att 2001-2005 (proj to 16g)
82-96-71-44-48
McNabb Pass Rtg 2001-2005
84-86-80-104-85
McNabb TD/Int Ration 2001-2005
2.1 - 2.8 - 1.5 - 3.8 - 1.8

If you want to stake your claim entirely on the 2004 season, go ahead, but what you described isn't any sort of pattern over a number of years.

What I see is a guy who is essentially the same passer 4 of the past 5 years, with essentially the same win total each of season except when he doesn't run.

[Crapshoot]

Really, just an idiot using bully pulpit to call some attention to himself. The fact that the NAACP doesn't disassociate itself from the fool shows a remarkable idiocy of sorts.

[st.cronin]

This is why nobody takes the NAACP seriously.

[Ben E Lou]

Other than this guy being from Philly, why didn't he go after Vick instead of McNabb? Hasn't Vick "become" more of a pocket QB than McNabb, and he didn't have a sports hernia to boot.I'll explain why later, and try to respond to albion's question as well, but the short answer is that Vick is probably the "blackest" QB in the NFL right now (and probably one of the three or four "blackest" players). No way a guy could come after Vick from this angle.

[Senator]

Grandstanding for profit and attention is what this is.

[johnnyshaka]

Umm ... are we talking about the Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb? Because, if we are ...

Eagles Wins 2001-2005(proj)
11-12-12-13-6
McNabb Rushing Att 2001-2005 (proj to 16g)
82-96-71-44-48
McNabb Pass Rtg 2001-2005
84-86-80-104-85
McNabb TD/Int Ration 2001-2005
2.1 - 2.8 - 1.5 - 3.8 - 1.8

If you want to stake your claim entirely on the 2004 season, go ahead, but what you described isn't any sort of pattern over a number of years.

What I see is a guy who is essentially the same passer 4 of the past 5 years, with essentially the same win total each of season except when he doesn't run.

First 6 games of '03 McNabb fumbled the ball 9 times...ouch. Coincidently, he also ran the ball 35 times...half of his season total...during those 6 games. His passer rating was atrocious for those 6 games. The next 10 games were a different story...he ran less and passed more efficiently...and they went 9-1. Hmmm...I think I like the second half McNabb, you?

This season...well, what can you say? He was hurt in the first game of the season and despite all of the T.O. crap, he was well on his way to repeating his 2004 performance. Heck, even if he wanted to run this season he probably couldn't, again because of the injury.

I still think he's become a better passer now because he doesn't run as much.

[Deattribution]

McNabb has certainly had to deal with more of this kind of tripe than any athlete I can remember. Strange.

I believe it was Michael Smith who had a column up a week or two ago - it was concerning black coaches, but similiar enough considering their prominent position as well.. Basically it was saying that coaches like Marvin Lewis, Lovey Smith and Tony Dungy should just be known as good coaches, not as good black coaches.

And that's where it falls on McNabb so much, because when he's succeeding - he's not a great quarterback - he's a great black quarterback, so when he's failing, he's either getting criticism for getting too much press cause he's black, or now in this case - he's failing cause he's not 'representing' enough.

When there stops being seperation, and this will quite possibly never happen - between excelling people, and excelling black people - then there won't be so much of an issue.

And alot of it can be brought on by the person themselves and the media - I think we heard about McNabb being one of the few black QB's to make it to the SB (second, wasn't he?), and we hear talk about Dungy possibly becoming the first black coach to take a team to the SB...

But take a look at other minorities, it's not as evident in the NFL - because it's mostly white and black, but look at baseball - tons of dominant players from not just foreign descent, but some from foreign countries altogether.. yet you don't hear much about a cuban player coaching or playing/winning the World Series, cause it's just normal. On the same token, you don't hear many Cuban players say - well this didn't happen cause I'm Cuban, or he said that cause I'm Cuban.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Heck, even if he wanted to run this season he probably couldn't, again because of the injury.

I'll give you that point, won't argue it. But ...

he was well on his way to repeating his 2004 performance.
Take away the 5 TD's against SF, his QB rating before the bye week was in the 80's & his TD/Int was 2-1, just like every other season in the last five.

I still think he's become a better passer now because he doesn't run as much.

That's fine, you can think that ... but the numbers don't support it. I see less running makes him the same passer he was before, minus 500 yds & 4 TD's a year that he gave you by running (his avg 2000-2003).

[johnnyshaka]

Take away the 5 TD's against SF, his QB rating before the bye week was in the 80's & his TD/Int was 2-1, just like every other season in the last five.

If we are going to start dropping highs...we better drop some lows, too.

That's fine, you can think that ... but the numbers don't support it. I see less running makes him the same passer he was before, minus 500 yds & 4 TD's a year that he gave you by running (his avg 2000-2003).

Well...let's drop his rushing numbers and TDs...not eliminate them altogether. He still scored 3 TDs last season with half as many runs and he also threw for more yards and TDs than he ever has. Again, despite injuries, he was on pace to put up similar numbers this season, including a couple of rushing TDs.

[cody8200]

At first I thought you were talking shit about Warren Moon...my all time favorite football player. I'm glad Moon wasn't involved in all of this.

Lets just see it like this, McNabb is getting older and like most QB's who are above 27 or so, doesnt want to get hit near as much. I dont think a running QB is what Philly needs. McNabb's a good QB, but he probably isn't one of the top 5 in the league (Manning, Palmer, Roethlisberger, Brady, and Leftwich are all better). That being said, like usual, I dont agree with anything the NAACP says.

[MrBigglesworth]

Leftwich and Roethlisberger??

Palmer might be better, but this is his only good season so far. McNabb had played in a passing offense and won 11 and 12 games for 4 straight years.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Well...let's drop his rushing numbers and TDs...not eliminate them altogether. He still scored 3 TDs last season with half as many runs and he also threw for more yards and TDs than he ever has. Again, despite injuries, he was on pace to put up similar numbers this season, including a couple of rushing TDs.

I'm trying to figure out where you're getting this "on pace" stuff, because that's not accurate, at least not outside of yards & TD's. Yep, he was actually on a 4,000 yard+ pace & TD's were virtually identical ... but interceptions were DOUBLED. He threw more picks (9) in 05 than in all of 04 (8). And even the yardage is misleading, since he was also on pace to throw 595 times (in 15 games) vs 469 last year (also 15 games). His completion percentage was down from 64% to 59%, yds per att was down from 8.3 to 7.0, rating was down from 104.7 to 85.0

Again, as I said earlier, I'm not arguing that he didn't have a damned good set of numbers in 2004. I'm just pointing out that his 2005 numbers (outside of TD's) look much more like 2001-2003 than they do like last year. The difference is the production he provided on the ground.

And by the way ...
First 6 games of '03 McNabb fumbled the ball 9 times...ouch.
Fumbles/Fumbles lost by season:
2001 - 8/3 - 16g
2002 - 6/5 - 10g
2003 - 9/3 - 16g
2004 - 8/6 - 15g
2005 - 8/3 - 9g

2001-2005
Fumbles while rushing - 14 with 5 lost (including 5/1 in 2005)
Fumbles when sacked - 25 with 15 lost (3/2 in 2005)

[Easy Mac]

Maybe he should comment on this (http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2260019&name=FPT-2260019-121517&srvc=sz), or is this how black quarterbacks are "supposed to act?"

[miami_fan]

Really, just an idiot using bully pulpit to call some attention to himself. The fact that the NAACP doesn't disassociate itself from the fool shows a remarkable idiocy of sorts.

http://www.naacp.org/news/2005/2005-12-15.html

NAACP Rebuts Comments Made By Philadelphia Branch President Jerry Mondesire

Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP President and CEO, said today that he is outraged by the comments made by Philadelphia branch president Jerry Mondesire about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Gordon said, “I can not respond strongly enough to how I feel about the controversy started by Mondesire’s article. Having spent the first 40 years of my life in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, I have followed the Eagles organization and its players for a long time. Donovan McNabb is one of the best that they have had. He is a great quarterback, an excellent role model and a class act. Whatever possessed Mondesire to take such a negative position on a positive person like McNabb is beyond me. The NAACP has many civil rights issues that require our attention. Criticizing Donovan McNabb is not one of them. However, in light of Mondesire’s criticism it has become a personal priority of mine to set the record straight. I intend to reach out to Mr. MnicNabb personally to offer my apology as well as my support.”

Mondesire spoke as a newspaper owner, columnist and radio host. The NAACP is further investigating this matter to make sure these statements were properly vetted and our policies and procedures were not violated.

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

I guess Bruce Gordon does not "get it" either.

[Buccaneer]

I'll explain why later, and try to respond to albion's question as well, but the short answer is that Vick is probably the "blackest" QB in the NFL right now (and probably one of the three or four "blackest" players). No way a guy could come after Vick from this angle.
Something about them growing on trees in GA and FL and wanting him to succeed so it could open more doors?

[MrBigglesworth]

Something about them growing on trees in GA and FL and wanting him to succeed so it could open more doors?
I know it wasn't intended, but it made me cringe a little bit talking about black QB's 'growing on trees' in the deep south. Probably not the most PC metaphor.

[Buccaneer]

SkyDog's term, not mine.

[cody8200]

Leftwich and Roethlisberger??

Palmer might be better, but this is his only good season so far. McNabb had played in a passing offense and won 11 and 12 games for 4 straight years.

Yes, but who would you rather have as QB? I'd take the previous 2 in a sec. Leftwich is 15/5 on TD/Int this year and he has gotten better every year he's in the league. Roethlisberger's numbers are low due to injury, but he is a winner. I stand by my choices. BTW, I'll say Hasselback's my number 6.

[MrBigglesworth]

What's Big Ben ever won? I seem to remember him playing like ass in the playoffs last year.

How is McNabb not a winner compared to Big Ben?