Shedeur Sanders’ Slide in NFL Draft Cost Him $44 Million

'We know they used to refuse to even let black people play QB in my lifetime but how dare they imply that some people in this sports league full of jocks may have some prejudice thoughts!'
I know you were being sarcastic, but you're exactly right. It is very, very wrong to imply people might be prejudiced. You have to meet them, otherwise you're the one being prejudiced.
 


The NFL doesn't want it's QBs to have opinions or personalities. Really any of it's players but especially QBs.
I think it would be better phrased as, "The NFL doesn't want it's players to do things that might turn off fans". Now certainly "opinions" and "personalities" could fall under that, depending upon what is being said. But they don't always fall under that. I think Favre had a personality and the NFL was fine with it because it didn't turn people away. Colin had an "opinion" and the NFL was fine with it, until fans became upset. Mess with the owners money and you won't be around long.
 

Without reading the essays above, are people actually arguing that Sanders is being shafted because he's black?
As far as I can tell:

1. There's some talking head media personalities who maybe said it to get attention but they're people you should ignore anyhow / not intellectually honest anyway.

2. Some folks seem to want to take "don't think bigotry was at play in sander's draft position" to be "there's no bigots" and they want to go down that unrelated path that doesn't seem to have anything to do with Sanders that I can tell.

Either way, no not really, but some folks want to have a different conversation or something ...
 

I think it would be better phrased as, "The NFL doesn't want it's players to do things that might turn off fans". Now certainly "opinions" and "personalities" could fall under that, depending upon what is being said. But they don't always fall under that. I think Favre had a personality and the NFL was fine with it because it didn't turn people away. Colin had an "opinion" and the NFL was fine with it, until fans became upset. Mess with the owners money and you won't be around long.
If I started engaging in social activism in my company-wide Teams chat, there would be consequences. You get paid to work, not to be an activist. Unfortunately, some people respond with the "oh, so it's just shut up and dribble?" well, yes, it is. I've worked every job under the sun - from construction, in kitchens, service industry, landscaping, etc. If I showed up to work and started spouting sociopolitical things I'd be reprimanded and fired if I didn't stop. These guys are the luckiest people in the world - they become multi-millionaires from playing a game and can retire in their 30's.
 


As far as I can tell:

1. There's some talking head media personalities who maybe said it to get attention but they're people you should ignore anyhow / not intellectually honest anyway.

2. Some folks seem to want to take "don't think bigotry was at play in sander's draft position" to be "there's no bigots" and they want to go down that unrelated path that doesn't seem to have anything to do with Sanders that I can tell.

Either way, no not really, but some folks want to have a different conversation or something ...
It's just so tiring. There's a famous quote by Socrates, I believe, that goes something like "Show me the stories you tell your children and I'll show you your culture." - When you teach young people to see racism in everything, they will absolutely do it. I've played different sports at various levels and there are certainly people who try to inject race into it whenever possible.
 

I know you were being sarcastic, but you're exactly right. It is very, very wrong to imply people might be prejudiced. You have to meet them, otherwise you're the one being prejudiced.
If a person is more interested in fighting against allegations of prejudice than against actual prejudice I’ve got no time for them. If a person plays the ‘accusing someone (or in this case not even an actual individual) of prejudice means youre the prejudice one, Ive really got no time for them. Those are the ‘moderates’ Dr King spoke of, who claim to be for justice but only when it suits them. And trying to narrow a systemic issue such as racism, even racism in a sports league, down to individuals being racist in ways that can be proven in a court of law is a subtle way people try to discount the realities of the issue. Probably wasn’t much documented evidence of racism by the NFL in the 70s, but there also weren’t any black QBs. Folks arguing like you are would claim that I was being racist then for implying that there was a problem. Its a bad faith, disingenuous argument.
 

If a person is more interested in fighting against allegations of prejudice than against actual prejudice I’ve got no time for them. If a person plays the ‘accusing someone (or in this case not even an actual individual) of prejudice means youre the prejudice one, Ive really got no time for them. Those are the ‘moderates’ Dr King spoke of, who claim to be for justice but only when it suits them. And trying to narrow a systemic issue such as racism, even racism in a sports league, down to individuals being racist in ways that can be proven in a court of law is a subtle way people try to discount the realities of the issue. Probably wasn’t much documented evidence of racism by the NFL in the 70s, but there also weren’t any black QBs. Folks arguing like you are would claim that I was being racist then for implying that there was a problem. It’s a bad faith, disingenuous argument.
I’ll wade in and make one comment as there are some younger posters, who may not be aware of the history of it.

Im pushing 60, and back in day it was commonly accepted that Black college QBs lacked the intellectual ability to handle the intricacies of an NFL offense and were best suited to play WR/RB. There were still NFL personnel who wanted Lamar Jackson not as a QB, but at other positions. IIRC, there was concern regarding his Wunderlic Score.

This Wikipedia page provides a good summarization from various sources IMO, for anyone interested in the subject.

 

You were literally speaking of 40 years ago which is what I responded to. You may want to re-read both comments my guy
The point is that black qbs have been successful for 40 years. I didn’t argue that it was fair or easy for those first few who broke thru. Today? Not even a debate. There have been a ton of black QBs taken first overall in the 2000s including each of the last two years. Being upset that NFL teams didn’t like “this” qb because of his amazing personality and opinions is beneath anyone with a brain.
 



The point is that black qbs have been successful for 40 years. I didn’t argue that it was fair or easy for those first few who broke thru. Today? Not even a debate. There have been a ton of black QBs taken first overall in the 2000s including each of the last two years. Being upset that NFL teams didn’t like “this” qb because of his amazing personality and opinions is beneath anyone with a brain.
we'll agree to disagree. This nation has too much history, past and recent, for me to believe anything of the sort is beneath anyone. And in this case I don't even think it's the issue. I simply don't fault anyone for posing the question or wondering that.
 

I think there will always be polarizing because of his playing style. Manziel being the other glaring example. The scrambling gunslinger is fun to watch and very effective in college and it makes sense that we want that style to be effective in the NFL, but it just isn’t.

I think running QBs seem like they give you more "options" on the surface, but generally running QBs are running around because they couldn't find an option... and that's not really a good thing.
Agreed, but sanders was no Manziel in college. Johnny had more passing yards than Sanders.

He also had 2100 rushing yards. Sanders had -127 on 211 attempts (i think that is evidence towards Slab's point).

Johnny could run and pass. He couldn't work hard. he just did what was easy for him.

Sanders was fine as a college QB; but I think it was obvious he wasn't NFL ready. He might actually put in the work, but he isn't good enough yet. And he fakes it, before he made it.
 




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