From the Pressbox

Wanted to get this posted sooner, but needed to do some actual research for today’s blog. It’s about Damon Allen, Donovan McNabb, quarterbacks and racism.

In case you’re unaware of McNabb’s comments – which ignited this debate – he was asked by HBO interviewer James Brown if black QBs are more harshly scrutinized than whites.

"I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, [mimicking] 'Ah, he could've made this throw, they would have scored if he did this,” McNabb said.

To his credit, Brown followed up with: "Doesn't every quarterback go through that?"

"Not everybody," McNabb answered.

Brown then asked if the media is tougher on him than the likes of Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning.

"Let me start by saying I love those guys," McNabb said. "But they don't get criticized as much as we do. They don't."

When asked for his opinion by The Globe and Mail, Allen backed McNabb.

On this issue, they are both wrong.

Look, we all know that if the two of them made these comments 10, 15, 20 years ago, no argument would be possible. It was 20 years ago – April 1987 – that no team in the NFL drafted Kevin Murray.

Murray was a second-team All-America, his conference’s all-time leader in TD tosses (his name is still all over the Texas A&M record book) and runner-up to Bo Jackson for the 1986 Heisman. The draft was 12 rounds back then, there were only four black quarterbacks in the NFL, and the only one selected that year – Don Smith – had 40 rushes and 40 receptions in three seasons. He never threw a pass.

Warren Moon freaked over Murray’s omission, and deservedly so. Then, Doug Williams won the Super Bowl and it was as if the NFL discovered cold fusion.

Until his incredible off-field meltdown, Mike Vick had plenty of defenders despite an inaccurate arm. No rookie was embraced more in the NFL last season than Vince Young. Meanwhile, noted draft busts Ryan Leaf and Rick Mirer were embarrassed out of the league.

For McNabb to mention Peyton Manning is particularly interesting because no NFL quarterback was ripped more than Manning until he won his Super Bowl. As a matter of fact, the guy was synonymous with some miserable/spectacular failures.

It began in college, when Tennessee never sniffed a national championship during his four years. The season after he graduated, the Volunteers won it all with CFL reject Tee Martin running the show. (How about that, Blue Bomber fans?)

Manning lost his first three playoff games, none more embarrassingly than a 41-0 wipeout by the Jets in 2003. Here are some of the reviews following that game:

A USA Today column opened with: “By exposing Peyton Manning's Colts as a colossal fraud last night...” and later cut deeper: “The Jets should've thanked Manning for everything he did for them. The quarterback who hasn't won a big game since fifth grade was juked by the Jets defense and jeered by the Jets fans when executing his useless and maddening filibusters at the line.” The author, Ian O’Connor, also referred to him as “Peyton Mickelson.”

From the Tennessean: “In a big game, (Jets QB Chad) Pennington was everything Manning is often rumored to be — smart, efficient, composed and relentless.”

Of course, Manning later had to suffer the humiliation of being called out by his kicker, Mike Vanderjagt, which is kind of like being dunked on by the last pick in a schoolyard basketball game. Never heard David Akers rip McNabb.

And McNabb did admit that Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman – mocked as Sexy Rexy by those who think he’s more worried about his hair than his playbook – was criticized much more than he was last season.

I do have some sympathy for him. He was booed by Eagles fans when the team made him the second pick overall in 1999. (They wanted Ricky Williams.) Philadelphia is arguably the meanest city for any athlete to play in, and quarterback is probably the most picked-apart position in North American team sports. It’s a difficult combination.

For the most part, McNabb has handled things well. From being called the white media’s favourite QB by the idiotic Rush Limbaugh (kind of ironic now, though) to being targeted by the superhero of selfishness, Terrell Owens, he’s always taken the high road.

But this is an interesting turn for him. You can’t help but wonder if he looks at his team and thinks the window to win it all is closing. He’ll be 31 in November and hasn’t been able to stay healthy the last two years. Even in games he started, the Eagles were just 9-9. Meanwhile, Jeff Garcia went 6-3 (including playoffs) in place of McNabb last year.

(The Eagles are 0-2 this season, but it’s not relevant since the interview was taped in August.)

McNabb might not admit it, but the memory of Super Bowl XXXIX must kill him. I’m no fan of Owens, but you can’t help but admire how hard he worked to get ready for that game, six weeks after suffering a severely sprained ankle and broken leg. He was arguably the game’s best player, with nine catches for 122 yards.

Meanwhile, McNabb faltered in Philly’s final chance. There was some strange clock management. Owens claimed McNabb was vomiting in his helmet, although the QB denies it. Whatever the case, he’s the quarterback.

The Eagles have never won the Super Bowl. The Flyers haven’t won since 1975. The Phillies last won in 1980. The Sixers are the most recent champions, in 1983. This city is starving for a title, and McNabb is the biggest name on the biggest team. He’s the highest-paid player – by far – in an organization notorious for being tight spenders.

Comes with the territory, Donovan.

What blew me away, however, was Allen’s reaction. First of all, someone should tell him that, last weekend, seven of the eight CFL starters were black. Second, he should remember that when he came here, in 1985, he had zero chance of playing in the NFL. Instead, he came to a league that embraced black quarterbacks and saluted him in his 40s as the Grey Cup MVP in 2004, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2005, and as pro football’s all-time passing leader in 2006.

I also understand Allen’s recent frustrations. He’s injured. He may never start another game. He was publicly embarrassed this week by Adam Rita, who laughably tried to claim he was quoted out of context in a live radio interview.

Allen should also remember this: when Doug Flutie won his first Grey Cup in 1992, people said, “Well, he won it indoors.” Not until he won outdoors in 1996 were the doubters finally satisfied. Danny McManus did so much for Hamilton, but was basically booed out of town.

This week, I reviewed the special pre-game ceremony the Argonauts held for Allen five days after he set the passing record. I’ll never forget his brother – NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen – thanking Canadians. It was a powerful speech.

“To this organization, again, and to all the citizens of Canada, thank you for allowing my brother to play the game that he loves,” Marcus said. “Thank you for allowing him to make a living, but more importantly, thank you for allowing him to make a life. One that he enjoys, and one that he enjoys here. In this wonderful country.”

There was Warren Moon, talking about coming “back to the place that gave me my first opportunity to play professional football. And I will always be indebted to the Canadian people for that opportunity.” Then, he moved on to Damon.

“As Marcus said, thanks for loving his family and giving him a great place to live and play the great game of football that he loves so much. Thanks again for all of your support for all us Americans who come up here to play.”

Notice a trend?

As for Damon’s comments? “To the Canadian Football League, that gave me the opportunity to play the game that I love, I want to say ‘Thank You.’ Playing for 22 years, there are a lot of people I could thank... But I want to thank the city of Toronto, the people of Toronto, for putting a smile on my face for the past four years.”

Maybe Damon should watch that DVD again, too.

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