Racism. It was assumed that they didn’t have the mental capacity to handle the complexity of running an NFL offense. Clearly, that isn’t true. But, McNabb is by no means the first black quarterback in the NFL. Indeed there have been a number of black quarterbacks including Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Steve McNair, Randall Cunningham, Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb. There are more currently, including Vince Young and DaMarcus Russell. The landscape is changing.

I’m not an expert on this, I’m sure I’m missing some.

Uh. You’re about 41 years too late on this question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlin_Briscoe

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_players_in_American_professional_football

@MrItty 40 years ago was still 30 years after the Holocaust, from which by then we should have learned some lessons about racialism. The answer is still racism, and this is still a racist country.

@MrItty Was it really necessary to scold someone for asking an innocuous question? Seriously, why not just say, “Actually, Marlin Briscoe was the first black quarterback in the NFL nearly 40 years ago and he paved the way for many more college and NFL quarterbacks.” Was that so hard?

@shilolo I nearly always agree with you, but I think you paint a rosy picture. There are still plenty of people who would like to be able to root for an all-white team, and it is economics, not social good will that has changed the picture and done some paving in sports since the days of Branch Rickey (and Marlin Briscoe.)

@pdworkin I never said racism was gone. I said the landscape is changing. And you are right, owners are driven by economics, wanting to make the most money playing the best players. Still, pee wee and high school coaches funnel black players to the “skill positions” (i.e. running back and wide receiver) at the expense of the quarterback position.

@shilolo First, I don’t consider my response to be “scolding” at all. Second, the question itself is an errant accusation of racism. Racism is a serious charge, and deserves to be researched pretty thoroughly before being exclaimed. For that reason, I don’t consider the “question” to be innocuous in any way.

@MrItty If you are white you are a racist, and if you think you are not it’s because the fog of privilege is so thick that your vision is being affected.

@pdworkin “if you are white, you are” —methinks you need to go take a look at the dictionary definition of “racism”

It doesn’t matter what you say you think. You have just proven my point by what you have posted.

@pdworkin whatever you say, buddy. You’re clearly not open to rational dialogue on the matter. Sweeping generalizations are all you seem capable of conceptualizing. Take care.

@shilolo I know he wasn’t the first. But, since I’m not a huge football fan (and if I have to be, I have to be a KC Chiefs fan when I’m with my hubby, and a Dallas Cowboy’s fan with my Dad!) I was kind of proud that I knew McNabb was a QB (Especially since I don’t think he plays with either of those teams) and I idly noted he was Black, and idly said, “Well, hell. Football, still, instead of “60 Minutes.” So I shall go post a question on Fluther.”

@Mritty If it is really true that you, the product of 400 years of privilege, have, like the Madonna, no taint, then not only am I open to what you think, I worship you, and I would like to follow you as your acolyte.

@pdworkin But what about me??!!

It’s always nice when a Fluther conversation devolves to “I know you are, but what am I!!”. Ugh.

Because the tradition of the position: To pass. Black quarterbacks did not pass as often, so no one wanted them

Oh man…I could see more than one of these answers coming a mile away. I would love to leave a rational and educated argument…but no thanks. Cancel my subscription…too many issues.

[mod says] Flame off, people. Personal attacks have been removed.

I sadly agree with @pdworkin that being white (myself included) automatically makes us racist. How we behave, how we speak, what we do to improve is what’s important. But we are all bigoted in some way; some just hide it better than others, or are in denial.