This won't take long...
Warren Moon, a former NFL quarterback and NFL Hall of Fame inductee, recently went on record about the criticism that Cam Newton is receiving before this year's NFL draft. Because Cam Newton, a African-American Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from University of Auburn, is being picked apart by NFL scouts, talking heads, and the media about his playing ability, Warren was quick to say that all of this attention is a form of racism.
Hey Warren, I don't know if you remember another quarterback that got a lot of criticism when he came out of the college ranks and entered the NFL draft. He was a big kid, ran a spread offense, won a national championship, was ridiculed for having good looks, and being out spoken. Heck he even won a Heisman Trophy while playing in the SEC just like Cam did. Warren, is any of this sounding familiar? It should, he was a rookie last year in the NFL and a first round draft pick of the Denver Broncos (right or wrong).
Not ringing any bells? Tim Teabow was scrutinized as much if not more than Cam Newton when he entered the NFL draft. As he should have been as his throwing mechanics (foot work and release point) needed a lot of work, he ran a spread offense that did not require him to take snaps directly from the center which makes it more difficult to read defenses once the ball is snapped during a "play action" passing situation, etc... His "rah-rah" mentality was questioned for NFL locker rooms. All the same commentary about a soon to be rookie QB in the NFL he just has a different color of skin. Warren, why does scrutiny of Cam Newton have to be labeled racism if commentary is made by someone that is not African-American? As you were quoted saying, "Haven't we moved past all of that?"
Just to clarify, there are other high profile quarterbacks in this year's NFL draft that happen to be white who are receiving a lot of criticism for their on field and off field ability to lead a NFL team as well. Warren, please stand up for Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett as well. Locker was the star QB at your alma mater (University of Washington), you have to know who he is.
Very true. You brought up some really good points and Tebow's criticism was certainly rough - Cam's isn't any worse.
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