While browsing through all of the Vick stories – of which very little new was commented on or reported, frankly – I stumbled upon an interesting OpEd by D.K. Wilson of the National Sports Review regarding Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich and the fact that no NFL team is giving them a chance. He contrasted them with Chad Pennington, and I agree with much of his opinions:
The excuse for Pennington is that Bill Parcells drafted Chad in the first place when Parcells was with the Jets. But do the San Francisco 49ers have the same excuse? J.T. O’Sullivan, formerly of NFL Europe, anyone? Brodie Croyle gives the Kansas City Chiefs their best chance at winning this season? Jon Kitna in Detroit? Matt Ryan in Atlanta? Kyle Boller in Baltimore? Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart with Arizona? [....]
Neither Leftwich nor Culpepper is worthy of competing in an open competition with any of these teams?
Then Mr. Wilson launches into a discussion on the United Football League, Mark Cuban, and why this league will be different:
Then again, Mark Cuban is involved in starting a new football league, the United Football League. The league plans to kickoff in 2009 and has a black commissioner, Michael Huyghue. And depending on his status in federal prison, Michael Vick is said to be the league’s biggest draw.
The NFL owners have the philosophy that every player is no more than an interchangeable part to be used, abused, and discarded at will. [....]
But don’t think Cuban, the ultimate “player’s owner,” doesn’t know this. And don’t think he won’t be part of an ownership crew that plans to humanize its league’s players; not to the extent of “He Hate Me” but the stifling conditions the NFL places on its players will certainly be relaxed in the UFL – group touchdown celebrations will certainly be allowed.
Cuban also understands what puts butts in seats. He will spearhead and foster a fan-friendly environment and ensure that players are well cared for. As a man who loves to expose the tender, raw side of the establishment, Cuban will, through the UFL, surely seek to expose the draconian mindset of the NFL and publicly juxtapose it with his offering.
It is little wonder that ESPN, the television network and ESPN.com have devoted so little time and space to the league’s forming.
Perhaps more than anything else that Wilson writes it is clear that he “gets it” with the above section of his editorial. The United Football League is a business, true, but they are seeking to change the game. They want to include the fans more so than the plain old “No Fun League”. They want to increase the fun quotient for the players – they want to bring forth an NFL-style game with high quality players and few gimmicks, but they will certainly embrace the “fun” of football and reinforce the joy we see each Friday at high school games where they play because they love the American game of football. The UFL should celebrate the love for the game that we see on Saturday’s as men and women return to their campuses and wax nostalgic for the days of yore – while mingling with the fresh faced college students who cheer for their teams whether they are 1-11 or 11-1 – simply because of school spirit and a love of the game.
In my opinion that spirit is drained from the NFL where corporate football rules and overpriced tickets, food, and piped in noise provide little fun. People ask me why I am so excited about the UFL, and it’s simply because I think they have a chance to do something different. If they have the money and willpower to stick around long enough I think both the players and the fans will choose the authentic over the sterile.
Mr. Wilson goes on to a more controversial topic which I think is well worth considering:
Men who employ “coaches” who, for the most part, act like field bosses overseeing uncivilized heathens. They demand that players work beyond their physical limits and whip the broken and wounded survivors into believing that wins and losses equal life and death. And if a survivor fails to buy into that most fallacious illogic related to the playing of a brutal game, or if the survivor gives the appearance of not being able to perform in constant pain the heathen is discarded and the overseer will change the locks to the plantation owner’s facilities.
And the heathen suddenly finds contract signed by all parties is worth less than the paper on which it was printed.
Hell, with Leftwich, Culpepper, and Vick at the helm of teams, the UFL might just become known as the “BQL.” That would be the Black Quarterback’s League.
Everyone knows the NFL will be watching the workings of the UFL closely. And if the new entry into professional football galaxy shows continued signs of being able to sustain life on its planet, the NFL owners will come calling with buckets of cash up front for its key players.
And suddenly, with a new perspective and games to play, the UFL might not be such a bad place, after all.
I don’t know that I agree with the slavery references, although a number of authors have theorized that professional and collegiate sports represent a modern day indentured servant system in the sense that once someone’s body gives out they are discarded – they have been well paid, certanly – but they are thrown aside for a newer model. It is a point worth considering – although we shouldn’t interject politics into everything, we should allow ourselves a moment to ponder the words of Wilson.
Beyond the politics he is absolutely correct on the NFL watching warily. Michael Huyghue and the others are also treading tentatively – not wanting to bring forth the brash, broken promises of ventures like the XFL and also not wanting to bring the wrath of the NFL down quite yet. If the UFL grows and begins to succeed, however, the giant will awaken and they’ll do all they can to crush the UFL beneath their heel. The NFL is no different from Microsoft in that respect – the question is does the UFL have the money, will, creativity, and time to emulate Google?
Perhaps Tim Armstrong (UFL co-founder and Google executive) senses the opportunity to bring down or at least radically change two giants, rather than just one.
Be sure to discuss D.K. Wilson’s theory of the plantation system, his position that the UFL might well become the Black Quarterback League, and his less controversial (to UFL fans at least) view of how the UFL might be able to change the game of football on our forums.
Also, be sure to weigh in and vote on my prediction on the timeline of the UFL official launch announcement here.
Source: National Sports Review
That sounds racist. The black QB’s league? So what if they’re black? Daunte Culpepper was once one of the top QBs in the league and he may be able to be one for a UFL team.
Sweetness, did you read the full article? We’re reporting (and editorializing) on an article by DK Wilson, who was lamenting that black QBs were not getting enough respect in the NFL. There’s nothing, of course, wrong with black QBs – our point, and Wilson’s, is the exact opposite, in fact. I’m afraid you’re misunderstanding.
I may be. I can name 3 QBs in the NFL that are black and get a ton of attention:
JaMarcus Russel- QB- Oakland Raiders
Number 1 pick in 2007, is the face of that franchise along with Darren McFadden
Vince Young- QB- Tennessee Titans
Number 3 pick in 2006. He’s great with his feet, has good but not great WRs and isn’t so good throwing. He’s still developing.)
David Garrard-QB-Jacksonville Jaguars
After Byron Leftwich was released, he became the QB for the Jags and he threw only 3 INTs, 2509 passing yards, and 18 TDs. He led the Jags to an 11-5 record and a Playoff berth.
Great point. The UFL will provide a “second chance” for numerous NFL players –and if that helps black quarterbacks who feel shafted, then more power to them and to the UFL.
“The Black Quarterback’s League?” Does anyone seriously believe that they would want to be know by that? It kind of screams of racist agenda.
Byron Leftwich was signed by Pittsburgh a week ago by the way.
To add to the list above from Sweetness:
Donovan McNabb – Philadelphia. How could anyone forget him?
Tavaris Jackson – Minnesota
As for Culpepper, his injuries in 2005, 2006 & 2007 may have something to do with the lack of interest. Still, he was offered a job with Green Bay and turned it down. He would not have been the starter, but, at least he would have seen some action in pre-season games and possibly raised his market value. I would also venture to say that if Tampa Bay didn’t already have Garcia, he would probably already be signed there. Gruden loves Vet QB’s.
What a ridiculous article…is National Sports Review having that difficult of a time finding worthwhile articles to print? I’m sick and tired of this “plantation owner” and slavery crap…those debts were paid in blood in 1865, let it go already!
Ask yourself this then: how many NFL players are born into the league? How many are NOT free to play for another team (contracts aside, what about Free Agency)? When you sign a legal agreement, aren’t you supposed to give due consideration to your part of that agreement? Who is forcing these players to stay in the NFL, why can’t they leave and enter some other type of business? Or are we still stuck in the ridiculous idea of only being able to do ONE job only in our entire lives? I’ve had to change careers twice due to layoffs, but nobody is crying for me (nor am I; the changes prove to be wise moves anyway).
BQL, eh? So we’re going to have quotas based on skin color? How then do players fit in to the quota system if their parents are mixed-race (black-white, black-Asian, white-Asian, Hindu-Muslim, et al…)? Ridiculous! What ever happened to ABILITY?
How quickly we forget: prior to Michael Vick’s indictment, he was a media darling…now he’s their goat. Personally, I wouldn’t want Culpepper nor Vick being a QB on my future UFL team, since I would want them to actually have a chance at winning. Both Vick & Culpepper are excuse-makers and aren’t all that good. I do like Byron Leftwich’s skills and would be ecstatic if he were my UFL teams’ QB. But forget about Culpepper & Vick!
I would like to see the UFL’s Player Code of Conduct posted on their website with access via the internet.
What we DO NOT need is a “feeding” system from the UFL into the NFL for more thugs like Michael conVick! There are many, many talented MEN that are cut from teams each year….and more who never make a team, with higher moral character than some mentioned in the UFL articles I’ve read.
I would suppport this league only if it “Clean-out” the thugs we all read and hear about (almost daily) felons, druggies, DUI’s, wife-beaters, dogfighters (and dog killers).
YES, be different from the NFL…..select decent, moral men who love the game…..have fun playing the game and enjoy the support from their fans.
I have to disagree with CCURRY. I mean this would be a perfect opportunity for athletes like Vick. Mike was a high marketed player when he was in the nfl and he still would be now. Vick is as talented as any other qb in the nfl. He just made one too many mistakes. Roy Jones Jr. admitted to fighting dogs and he didnt get into trouble and Pacman Jones was reinstated back into the nfl after being involved with multiple shootings at clubs. Come on whats worse a dog dying or people. Vick would be a seat filler. I do agree that Culpeppers time has passed. However it is discriminating to say that you wouldnt want thugs in the UFL or are you just saying you dont want them because most are black. I agree that their should be a stricter code of conduct but in Vick’s case that was a mistake. Plenty of people have participated in dog fighting. Why should one man who is obviously being made into an example not be allowed to better himself thats all im saying
Nobody is saying Vick doesn’t deserve a second chance…I’m not even concerned with his off-field troubles. I WILL say that I hope he’s not the QB of my Las Vegas team, since I don’t think that he’s all that talented and I know there are more talented & able QBs available than Vick. Vick is all hype, little substance.
But then again, if this is going to be WWE-style football, where everything is scripted for entertainment value only, and hype counts for everything, then I guess Vick will be quite the hot product. But when it all boils down to brass tacks (so to speak), ability is everything and skin color/hype mean NOTHING.
Since we’re on the topic of skin color being a factor, then what about ACCOMPLISHED Black QBs, like from the Canadian Football League (Casey Printers, Kerry Joseph, Henry Burris, Michael Bishop)? Or potential stars currently serving as backups in the CFL like Adrian McPherson or Jarious Jackson? I’d be happy with any one of those gentlemen…and they wouldn’t be commanding the overpriced demands of some overrated hack like Vick.
I’m not surprised at this story. We all know that black quarterbacks aren’t giving a fair try in the NFL. Even Donovan McNabb gets criticized when the Eagles lose. But does Tom Brady or Peyton Manning get the same treatment? That’s an emphatic “NO”. It’s only a matter of time before David Garrard, Vince Young, and JaMarcus Russell get the same treatment. As far as ESPN is concern, in their mind, the NFL is the “it” league and any other league is second fiddle.
Stop stoking the flames of racism, ket it go, these article speaks more to the racist views of the writers than the NFL or it’s players. Let it go. There is no need for a Negro Baseball League or Black Football league.Be for real and cut the crap!If you are going to write about racism, write about how the Native Americans are still being treated with prejudice and and disrespect after we committed genocide and took their country, and how we have not had many Native Americans represented in the NFL since Jim Thorpe.Note: With all the “white” players I see being signed by the UFL, do you think it could become the White Players league?