McNabb to Owens - 'it was black-on-black crime'

[Deattribution]

McNabb: It was like black-on-black crime
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Associated Press
Posted: 16 minutes ago

DETROIT (AP) - Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb injected a race element into his rift with Terrell Owens on Wednesday, saying the receiver's criticism amounted to "black-on-black crime."

In an interview with ESPN, McNabb rehashed some of the low moments of his relationship with his teammate, making fun of Owens' driveway apology and bringing up the race angle.

"It was definitely a slap in the face to me. It was a slap in the face because, as deep as people want to go into it, it was black-on-black crime."

— Donovan McNabb

In November, responding to a question from Michael Irvin during an ESPN interview, Owens said Philadelphia would likely be in a better situation if Brett Favre was the quarterback instead of the banged-up McNabb.

"It was like, it's unreal," McNabb said. "That's like me going out and saying, 'Hey, if we had Steve Largent. If we had Joe Jurevicius. It was definitely a slap in the face to me. It was a slap in the face because, as deep as people want to go into it, it was black-on-black crime."

Not long after that, an NAACP leader criticized McNabb for "playing the race card" in explaining why he didn't run the ball as often as he used to.

In November, the Eagles suspended Owens for the remainder of the season for his repeated criticism of the team, McNabb and several other issues. The team recently gave Owens permission to seek a trade, and this week he visited the Denver Broncos.

On Wednesday, McNabb brought up some of the criticism he had taken through his career, and said Owens was simply piling on with his statement.

"It's different to say, 'If we had Michael Vick or Daunte Culpepper or Steve McNair or Byron Leftwich," McNabb said of four black starting quarterbacks. "But to go straight to Brett Favre, that kind of just slapped me in the face like, 'Wow ..."'

Owens apologized twice publicly - once after his preseason holdout and then again, in his driveway, after he was suspended.

"The first apology, that was to the organization," McNabb said. "Then, I was thrown in there - 'If I offended Donovan in any way' - you know. Instead of that, you could have just told me, hey, I apologize for the way it came out. I didn't mean it that way. Just come talk to me."

I have no sympathy for anytime anyone uses some sort of race card against McNabb after he says insane things like these... He has nothing to cry about when people do the same crap he does.

Maybe he can say he's an overrated pant load cause Owen's critisized him after the season too.


link - http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5299584http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5299584

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah, nothing gets to me quite like that. ummm yeah you're both black. does that mean that he shouldn't have said that or something? is there some unwritten "black people can't criticize each other" rule?

whine whine whine bullcrap.

[Eaglesfan27]

As everyone knows, I'm a huge Donovan fan, but this doesn't sound like one of his finer moments. I really want to hear the tone of his voice when he said what he said, but from reading it in print, it sounds bad for him.

[astrosfan64]

As everyone knows, I'm a huge Donovan fan, but this doesn't sound like one of his finer moments. I really want to hear the tone of his voice when he said what he said, but from reading it in print, it sounds bad for him.

I like Donovan, he is just bitter right now and is going out of his way to bash Owens. Donovan was out of line on this one comment. Owens is a prick but the comment he made about Favre wasn't racist. Mike Irvin explained how the comment came to be.

Mike Irvin said if Favre was in Philly he would win ball games. Favre just doesn't have talent in Greenbay. Mike said the Eagles would be undefeated if they had Favre. So the press asked TO about the comment and he agreed.

I like Donovan he is a good QB, but Brett Favre might be one of the best to ever play period.

[hoopsguy]

Eagles, it is a very long interview on the ESPN home page right now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2315565

There is a ton of stuff in there besides the "black-on-black" comment, but that is definitely the most inflammatory comment he makes.

[Rizon]

"Black on black crime fool, you know the ghetto will never change"
-Master P

"Black on black crime, either you poor or you blind. Life is a welfare line and the homies they doin time"
-Master P

"I want ya'll to play this at funerals in the hood, til all this black on black crime stop. Some say the blind lead the blind, but in the ghetto you never know, when it's gon be yo time."
-Master P

"A bunch'a broken homes, a bunch'a crack babies. Black on black crime, damn this shit is drivin me crazy"
-Master P

[SirFozzie]

Wow.. Maybe Owens isn't the whiniest bitch in this fight.

[VPI97]

McNabb is a jackass.

[ThunderingHERD]

What a moronic thing to say. Basically: "If he'd have said we'd be better off with one of four guys who it's generally agreed aren't as good as me, I wouldn't have minded. But he went and said we'd be better off with some white boy, who happens to be considered one of the greatest QBs ever. That really bothered me, because he's white."

[Eaglesfan27]

Eagles, it is a very long interview on the ESPN home page right now.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2315565

There is a ton of stuff in there besides the "black-on-black" comment, but that is definitely the most inflammatory comment he makes.

I just finished reading it. It really does highlight the divisive force of McNabb and Owen's Feud on the team. I wonder if Denver and KC, and whoever else, are reconsidering bringing Owens into the team and how he could hurt the chemistry. Of course, those GM's and coach's probably think the same thing that Eagles' fans thought - our coach and team can control Owens' behavior.

[stevew]

At least TO didnt say he was gay, although....

[Karlifornia]

Yeah, McNabb said something...ehhh....not entirely tactful.

[sabotai]

I saw the whole interview on ESPN earlier. I took the "black-on-black crime" comment as sort of a joke...

(EDIT: That specific comment itself as a joke, not the entire subject he was talking about. I think it's a little BS to be bringing out the race card too, but I kind of wonder how sensative McNabb is to it after the whole Rush Limbaugh fiasco.)

(And as a Giants fan, I would never try to look for excuses for McNabb. :p Just looking at it from all angles is all)

[sabotai]

dola,

And McNabb (and/or the interviewer) is getting on Owens a bit too much about Favre being brought up, anyway, since it wasn't Owens who went to Favre. Wasn't it someone else? And someone ask Owens "Do you agree with what this person said about Favre and the Eagles?"

[TazFTW]

Didn't McNabb's father call it "black-on-black crime" when Owens first made the comments?

[TazFTW]

dola
Yep. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5064996


McNabb's father relieved, sad over T.O. mess

/ FOXSports.com
Posted: 85 days ago


Donovan McNabb's father is relieved that Terrell Owens probably won't play for the Eagles again.




<TABLE class=emailBoothFields style="BORDER-RIGHT: #b3b3b3 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #b3b3b3 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #b3b3b3 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #b3b3b3 1px solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eee" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=240 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>The T.O. drama ...
<LI>
<LI>
<LI>Owens in locker-room brawl (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5058678)
<LI>SCHEIN: T.O. can't go back to Philly (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5061112)
<LI>CZAR: Who will want him? (http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5059102)
<LI>Fantasy spin: T.O. suspended (http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/story/5062344)

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Sam McNabb also wasn't surprised when he learned that the enigmatic wide receiver won't be welcomed back to the team after serving his four-game suspension, according to a report in The Philadelphia Daily News.

"Here's the reality of it," Sam McNabb told the paper. "There's been far too much press, far too much attention drawn to a situation that couldn't have become anything but a cancer to this team. And as we've learned in medicine, the best way to treat a cancer is to remove it. Not only will it do Donovan a lot better, but I think this whole team will do a lot better."

As for speculation that his son helped to engineer the divorce, the elder McNabb wasn't buying it.

"No one knows better than the players how difficult it is to get to that level, and I don't think Donovan would ever do something to destroy that for someone else," McNabb said. "I think he would be the most patient he could and hope and pray that it would work itself out. But I don't think he would ever personally put the kibosh on it."

But McNabb also told the Daily News he was saddened when he learned about the Eagles' decision to suspend Owens.

"As a father, as a man, as a sports enthusiast, I think this is a sad day," McNabb said. "It's another young man with a golden opportunity to do good in his life who opted to take a different stand.

"The sad side of it is this is a guy who could have been and who was very productive in this system. It's sad that wasn't enough for the guy."

Of course, McNabb is no stranger to hearing the taunts, jeers and criticisms of his famous son. On draft day in 1999, Eagles fans loudly booed the team's pick. And then there were Rush Limbaugh's now infamous remarks about the media's approach to black quarterbacks.

As for Owens, McNabb said the wide receiver's criticisms of his son stung him not as a father, but as a black man. "Within the last month, we've seen a man (Donovan McNabb) who is trying to accomplish something very difficult, to be an African-American quarterback at the top of his game, attacked by someone of his own race," McNabb said. "That's what really amazes me. It's like another black-on-black crime. Those are hurts that create scars that take a long time to heal."
I have a feeling Donavan's comments were influenced by his father's.

[Daimyo]

I think you guys are being too hard on McNabb... He's probably heard so much racial crap as a black QB since he started playing football that's just overly sensitive to criticism of his QB ability. It was a regrettable thing to say, but it certainly doesn't make him a jerk and I wouldn't consider it "playing the race card."

[Desmond]

My team is a shell. And the only person I blame is Andy Reid.

[sterlingice]

Wow.. Maybe Owens isn't the whiniest bitch in this fight.I dunno, McNabb has to say a lot of stupid things to catch up to Owens in this "fued". Just because the most recent stupid comment was by McNabb doesn't clear Owens.

SI

[Raiders Army]

I think you guys are being too hard on McNabb... He's probably heard so much racial crap as a black QB since he started playing football that's just overly sensitive to criticism of his QB ability. It was a regrettable thing to say, but it certainly doesn't make him a jerk and I wouldn't consider it "playing the race card."
I hate McNabb, but I think you're right that this statement doesn't make him a jerk. It makes him a hypocrite, however, when he brings race into the discussion when it wasn't warranted. Remember Rush?

[Blade]

Well, I am admittedly biased in all of this, and while I am disappointed he would say it, it is a credit to him that he hasn't gone off sooner. After all the crap he has had to put up with, he has dealt with it pretty well, at least to the media, and has tried to keep his head the whole time. I am surprised he didn't crack a little earlier...I know I would have.

[SirFozzie]

I dunno, McNabb has to say a lot of stupid things to catch up to Owens in this "fued". Just because the most recent stupid comment was by McNabb doesn't clear Owens.

SI

I'm sorry, calling it "black on black "Crime"" because someone asked him about the one to fthe top 10 QB's of all time is miles worse then anything Owens said in this feud..

[Senator]

I have a dream that my child will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their quarterback rating.

[Wolfpack]

Saying "black-on-black" does make it seem like McNabb is calling Owens in some respects a "race traitor", favoring a white QB over him.

One thing I haven't seen is whether some of this is going back to that loon at the Philly NAACP who in effect questioned McNabb's "blackness" if you will because McNabb wasn't a running QB like he used to be. Maybe McNabb is speaking like this to answer such charges. "You don't think I'm black enough because I don't run? Look at TO, he wants a white QB here!"

I'd also wager that McNabb has finally gotten tired of talking about Owens every time he sits down for an interview and just let it hang out finally. In effect, "If I tell you truly how I feel, will you shut up about it?"

[rkmsuf]

We need some good old fashioned white on white crime.

[BrianD]

I hate McNabb, but I think you're right that this statement doesn't make him a jerk. It makes him a hypocrite, however, when he brings race into the discussion when it wasn't warranted. Remember Rush?

I'd call his comment border-line racist...pretty much on the same level as the Rush comment.

[st.cronin]

Saying "black-on-black" does make it seem like McNabb is calling Owens in some respects a "race traitor", favoring a white QB over him.

One thing I haven't seen is whether some of this is going back to that loon at the Philly NAACP who in effect questioned McNabb's "blackness" if you will because McNabb wasn't a running QB like he used to be. Maybe McNabb is speaking like this to answer such charges. "You don't think I'm black enough because I don't run? Look at TO, he wants a white QB here!"

I'd also wager that McNabb has finally gotten tired of talking about Owens every time he sits down for an interview and just let it hang out finally. In effect, "If I tell you truly how I feel, will you shut up about it?"

I would even go so far as to say that McNabb's comments amount to an admission that he, himself, is a racist - that it's not fair to compare him to white qbs, only black qbs.

I am willing to forgive McNabb for this though - my reading of this is that he's blaming Owens for all the stuff that happened, even the NAACP guy who called out McNabb for playing 'white.' It's psychologically understandable, even if not exactly accurate.

[rkmsuf]

I would even go so far as to say that McNabb's comments amount to an admission that he, himself, is a racist - that it's not fair to compare him to white qbs, only black qbs.

I am willing to forgive McNabb for this though - my reading of this is that he's blaming Owens for all the stuff that happened, even the NAACP guy who called out McNabb for playing 'white.' It's psychologically understandable, even if not exactly accurate.

White people love that Chunky Soup though. He even advertises white.

[KWhit]

So is this comment (and the phrase in general) meant to imply that black-on-black crime is worse than black-on-white crime?

[flere-imsaho]

I have no sympathy for McNabb. He lobbied hard to get T.O. in Philly, even though T.O. had a pretty established track record by that time. I was one of those people who said "just wait for about one year, win or lose the Super Bowl, and we'll see...."

[SFL Cat]

McNabb should have kept his mouth shut. What a putz.

[TroyF]

I'm sorry, calling it "black on black "Crime"" because someone asked him about the one to fthe top 10 QB's of all time is miles worse then anything Owens said in this feud..


Wrong. McNabb handled himself with class through this entire, ridiculous, TO driven contract fight. He was thrown under the bus repeatedly by T.O.

He blew up. He said things he shouldn't have and his "black on black" crime comment was lunacy. Pure, 100% lunacy.

If anything, his mistake was bottling up the hate and trying to be "above" it for so long. He should have let loose a long time ago. I'll give McNabb a freebie on this one. He's made a ridiculous mistake, but I won't be comparing him to TO anytime in this millineum.

[moriarty]

McNabb is out of line here. If there was a "black on black" crime he should be blaming it on Michael Irvin not Owen. Irvin was the one who 'selected' Brett Favre as the example (as opposed to Vick, McNair, etc..) not Owen. Owen just agreed when asked by another reporter. It's not like Owen said Favre would make them undefeated but not Vick or some other black guy. He just agreed that they'd be undefeated with Favre.

I like Donovan, but I think he should have let this whole thing drop now and move on. It's clearly still messing with his phsyche. Another thing that bothers me is that I haven't heard any of the other Eagles stand up for Donovan (either after the racist comments or the this, or any of the confrontations) Maybe they are and it's just not getting printed outside of the Philadelphia press, but I'm suprised we don't see more Eagles on tv defending their QB.

[rkmsuf]

McNabb is out of line here. If there was a "black on black" crime he should be blaming it on Michael Irvin not Owen. Irvin was the one who 'selected' Brett Favre as the example (as opposed to Vick, McNair, etc..) not Owen. Owen just agreed when asked by another reporter. It's not like Owen said Favre would make them undefeated but not Vick or some other black guy. He just agreed that they'd be undefeated with Favre.

I like Donovan, but I think he should have let this whole thing drop now and move on. It's clearly still messing with his phsyche. Another thing that bothers me is that I haven't heard any of the other Eagles stand up for Donovan (either after the racist comments or the this, or any of the confrontations) Maybe they are and it's just not getting printed outside of the Philadelphia press, but I'm suprised we don't see more Eagles on tv defending their QB.

that's what happens when you throw up in the huddle during the superbowl and run out of gas the last 7 minutes.

[moriarty]

that's what happens when you throw up in the huddle during the superbowl and run out of gas the last 7 minutes.

I guess that's what I'm wondering. Has McNabb lost the team due to his alleged Choke/Chum, the whole Owen fiasco, etc... ? A lack of support from his team members may say more than anything here. Is it too early to say that Donovan needs to leave the Eagles?

[rkmsuf]

I guess that's what I'm wondering. Has McNabb lost the team due to his alleged Choke/Chum, the whole Owen fiasco, etc... ? A lack of support from his team members may say more than anything here. Is it too early to say that Donovan needs to leave the Eagles?

He does kind of look stupid endorsing TO, hanging with him to work out and then suddenly washing his hands of the whole thing.

It's hard to say not knowing what went on in the lockeroom but it's highly interesting that a supposed upper echlon qb and leader would allow a guy to show up to practice and conduct himself the way he did meaning TO...the not talking to anyone. I'd hope a lot of QBs would either kick his ass or plainly say it's our way or the highway and not allow it to go on.

Again it's all speculative but I don't suspect McNabb is a great leader.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wrong. McNabb handled himself with class through this entire, ridiculous, TO driven contract fight. He was thrown under the bus repeatedly by T.O.

He blew up. He said things he shouldn't have and his "black on black" crime comment was lunacy. Pure, 100% lunacy.

If anything, his mistake was bottling up the hate and trying to be "above" it for so long. He should have let loose a long time ago. I'll give McNabb a freebie on this one. He's made a ridiculous mistake, but I won't be comparing him to TO anytime in this millineum.
You summed up my feelings perfectly.

[sabotai]

I'd hope a lot of QBs would either kick his ass or plainly say it's our way or the highway and not allow it to go on.Denver's hoping that Jake Plummer is that QB!

[Mustang]

At least TO didnt say he was gay, although....

A broke on back crime?

[SFL Cat]

McNabb = second most overrated QB in NFL with Michael Vick being #1

[sabotai]

A broke on back crime?More like a *feminine gasp* on "feminine slap" crime.

[SFL Cat]

More like a *feminine gasp* on "feminine slap" crime.

No that would be the "fight" between Deion Sanders and Andre Rison many years ago.

[Eaglesfan27]

McNabb = second most overrated QB in NFL with Michael Vick being #1
Yeah, his numbers in 04-05 were truly unworthy of the hype :rolleyes:

[Raiders Army]

Wrong. McNabb handled himself with class through this entire, ridiculous, TO driven contract fight. He was thrown under the bus repeatedly by T.O.

He blew up. He said things he shouldn't have and his "black on black" crime comment was lunacy. Pure, 100% lunacy.

If anything, his mistake was bottling up the hate and trying to be "above" it for so long. He should have let loose a long time ago. I'll give McNabb a freebie on this one. He's made a ridiculous mistake, but I won't be comparing him to TO anytime in this millineum.
The way I see it is that he either:

a. Handled himself with class and made a left-field racist comment or
b. Repressed his true feelings and finally revealed that he's just as much of a jerk as TO is

I'm leaning towards option b.

[st.cronin]

The way I see it is that he either:

a. Handled himself with class and made a left-field racist comment or
b. Repressed his true feelings and finally revealed that he's just as much of a jerk as TO is

I'm leaning towards option b.

I see your pov, but I think (a) is certainly a possiblity. His comment was odd enough that it's possible it didn't represent his true feelings.

[Arctus]

Vick = second most overrated QB in NFL with Daunte Culpepper being #1

fixed

[Solecismic]

I feel bad for McNabb. Obviously, the whole Limbaugh thing has sent his mind into a tailspin. He's got a lot of pressure on him now.

I do feel the comments were racist. I saw the interview, and there's no pussy-footing around this. I lost a lot of respect for him yesterday.

[TroyF]

The way I see it is that he either:

a. Handled himself with class and made a left-field racist comment or
b. Repressed his true feelings and finally revealed that he's just as much of a jerk as TO is

I'm leaning towards option b.


I've said this many times about athletes:

I will always give em one free pass. (with excessive violence being one of the only exceptions to that rule) Everything they say and do in the media is publicized to high levels. A slip of the tounge or a "frustration" comment are going to happen on occasion.

I thought McNabb bit his tounge and conducted himself with class for a long, long time. People have been throwing him under the bus for over a year now. From TO to the jack ass clown from the NAACP who said he wasn't black enough.

I think yesterday was just a cumulative "I've had enough" snap.

Did I lose some respect for him? Yes. Do I think his comments were racist? Yes. Do I think they were appropriate? No.

Nor am I saying anyone else has to do it. But for me, I'm giving him a get out of jail free card on this one.

[Cotton]

Brett Favre (at least for most of his career) is (was) a fantastic quarterback. And Terrell Owens thought the Eagles would win if they had him playing for them. They probably would! But Owens, the ultimate attention whore that he is, decides that he's not getting enough attention and blabs it to someone he knew would publish it.

I don't think Terrell Owens is really smart or complex enough to think beyond that, Donovan. Favre was probably just the first name that came into his head that day. On another day, he could have said McNair (and he'd be right about that, too). Another day, someone else. It doesn't matter... Terrell Owens will say whatever he needs to say to get attention... lookatmelookatmelookatmethrowtomethrowtome... pant pant pant...

There's really nothing more sinister or racist than that. Donovan! You're accusing the dumb fool of doing something that's really beyond his scope of comprehension. Black on black... wha? It's not about race! It's not about quarterbacks! It's not about you! It's about Terrell, Terrell, Terrell.... 24/7... lookatmelookatmelookatme.... pantpantpant...

[flere-imsaho]

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[Glengoyne]

I'm almost sorry I jumped on the McNabb bandwagon after last couple of years. I used to semi agree that with Rush..that Donovan was Waaayyyyy overrated. Then he puts a couple of very nice stretches together, and I give him his due. Now he starts with this after a lack lustre campaign.

"It's different to say, 'If we had Michael Vick or Daunte Culpepper or Steve McNair or Byron Leftwich," McNabb said of four black starting quarterbacks. "But to go straight to Brett Favre, that kind of just slapped me in the face like, 'Wow ..."'
Why the hell would he suggest that any of those quarterbacks would be better than a banged up McNabb? When you substitute Favre into the question, with public sentiment toward Favre what it is, you are likely to get people to say you'd be better off with Favre than Donovan. I think I would have. Actually I'd have said the Eagles would be doing better if they had Favre AND Owens.

[TroyF]

I'm almost sorry I jumped on the McNabb bandwagon after last couple of years. I used to semi agree that with Rush..that Donovan was Waaayyyyy overrated. Then he puts a couple of very nice stretches together, and I give him his due. Now he starts with this after a lack lustre campaign.


Why the hell would he suggest that any of those quarterbacks would be better than a banged up McNabb? When you substitute Favre into the question, with public sentiment toward Favre what it is, you are likely to get people to say you'd be better off with Favre than Donovan. I think I would have. Actually I'd have said the Eagles would be doing better if they had Favre AND Owens.


That's the thing McNabb screwed up on when he jumped the gun here. It could have been ANY QB who was throwing the ball and ANY QB on another team.

TO wasn't thinking black/white. He was thinking TO, TO, TO.

And if Farve was the QB, he'd STILL be thinking TO. And he'd probably slam Farve as an overrated white guy and say Carson Palmer could lead him to victory.

The guy is just a moron, no need to read racism into it.

[BYU 14]

That's the thing McNabb screwed up on when he jumped the gun here. It could have been ANY QB who was throwing the ball and ANY QB on another team.

TO wasn't thinking black/white. He was thinking TO, TO, TO.

And if Farve was the QB, he'd STILL be thinking TO. And he'd probably slam Farve as an overrated white guy and say Carson Palmer could lead him to victory.

The guy is just a moron, no need to read racism into it.

I agree, I don't see that at all. To me it is just a case of McNabb finally getting fed up with the bullshit coming up every time someone talks to him and maybe even some lingering frustration from the comments made by that NAACP idiot.

To me it is a poor choice of words, but is still nowhere near as ignorant as the classics we have heard from the likes of Ray Nagin, Jimmy the Greek, Larry Cochell etc.....

There was really no malicious intent and I think some people might just be too thin skinned on both sides of the fence.

[Eaglesfan27]

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Thanks for a hearty laugh :D