I agree.

It seems there are more Black GMs than I imagined. Houston, Arizona, New York — but fewer than are merited based on the numbers in the game.

Frankly, Crennel might have been better served by being more aggressive in dealing with the Staph issue and supporting players like Winslow when the situation erupted earlier this year. Crennel took the company line against Winslow’s public position — and still received strong public support from Winslow.

Bottom line — I think Romeo took an unfortunate risk with Derek Anderson. He’s not the real deal. He should have taken a page from Marvin Lewis’ book and disregarded his highly productive season last year as a means to buy time on the back of Brady Quinn.

The Browns played a tough schedule this year — 2nd place AFC teams, NFC East and AFC South. No patsies on the grind…that combined with injuries put them in a serious hole. I’d like to think that Romeo will get another gig, but I believe that if he rode Quinn this year — for better or for worse, he and Savage would have a stronger negotiating position. As it stands, they’re a franchise is chaos.

Yeah, that combo of Smith and McCardell was amongst the best in the league.

Like origin & Patrick, I can’t see how Harris takes the bullet but Del Rio is still there. Makes no sense to me. Oh well, i’m sure that he’ll land on his feet somewhere else (Detroit, perhaps?) and turn another team around.

Cleveland got 10 wins last year in remarkable turnaround, and Crennel is likely gone a year later.

The first order of business for Jacksonville’ new GM: Cut Matt Jones, Draft Michael Crabtree.

Also Temple remember that the GM in Houston is a brotha too.

I have to give it to Harris he did try and draft WRs. But he also made sure that he always picked up RBs too.

Del Rio is getting a pass…….but his @ss is toast next year. Well unless they decide to use Garrad as a Mcnabb……ummm I mean scapegoat.

It’s funny. In relationship to the larger conversation we were having on Mizzo’s post re: Donovan, I think the Jaguars are an interesting study on this question of wide receivers. They’ve drafted a bunch of large wide receivers: Ernest Wilford, Reggie Williams, Matt Jones. They signed Porter. Best receiver in franchise history? Jimmy Smith. Worked diligently after early trouble to become an elite receiver.

They had Leftwich, a power running game, a physical defence (with some limitations like Donovan Darius in coverage), solid special teams. No brass ring, but always competitive. I can imagine Donovan on some of the recent Jaguar teams. None of those receivers, though, turned out to be particularly good.

Porter was the last person I remember eating Champ Bailey alive. It was a few years ago, but post-Portis trade. I think it was a Monday night game in the snow. Porter had around 200 yards. I haven’t the foggiest idea what his problem is or isn’t. He may have become tired of sitting around waiting for Garrard to get the rock downfield or just wanted to collect a check with a long recovery from injury. Maybe he’s legitimately injured, but he’s not bankable.

I figure Harris is the fall guy, but they have some solid pieces. It wouldn’t be surprised to see them win 10 games again next year without making very many changes at all.

What’s the low-down on Gene Smith? I don’t know much about him…….

Bottom line – the Black general managers in the league are firmly entrenched and have solid credentials. The only one that had some serious challenges has been James Harris, but he’s picked at least 3 very good QBs for that franchise.

First domino to fall. James Harris out in Jacksonville.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3789799

Gene Smith in.

http://www.jaguars.com/team/images/scout(2353)180×240.jpg

Remember – if you make a more compelling case, I’ll change my tune like a DJ…always willing to submit to what I can accept as the best argument. Keep it coming.

I hear what you are saying. I think you’re missing the larger picture, but in a way subtly different than what GN has suggested. The pipeline may indeed be the biggest thing to give pause to your argument, but I am looking to the present at the professional level.

I do believe you may be lumping some guys into the same piles who need to be separated out a bit. Brad Johnson has a ring. Kitna has thrown for 4000 yds in both conferences and been to the Pro Bowl — and just this year he alleged that the Lions lied about his medical condition to GET HIM OFF THE Field — and they signed…….Daunte Culpepper.

I think the Black QB Watch is all over the place and needs to be tightened up a bit. I think you have some rich stuff here, but you’re looking at the wrong players in the wrong situations and applying the wrong metrics. I mean, really, what’s the root? Kill the Black QB? Ain’t happening unless you kill the Black coach and the Black GM — and in case you haven’t noticed, they’ve got all the hardware the league has issued since 2005.

First of all it bears noting that Black QBs tend to be located on franchises with Black coaches and Black general managers (Garrard: James Harris Jacksonville; Troy Smith: Ozzie Newsome Baltimore; Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch: Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh; Quinn Gray: Tony Dungy Indianapolis; Andre Woodson: Jerry Reese NY Giants). The conversation, to my mind, requires a thoughtful consideration of that starting point.

Bottom line – the Black general managers in the league are firmly entrenched and have solid credentials. The only one that had some serious challenges has been James Harris, but he’s picked at least 3 very good QBs for that franchise. Also, your analysis of David Garrard seems way off base. He’s not the problem in J’ville and there are rallies to suggest that anyone thinks he is. Last year, like Jason Campbell this year, he was the LAST QB to throw a pick and he finished with 18 tds and 3 picks. He was rarely sacked and beat the Steelers on the road TWICE at the end of the season. He actually converted the critical 4th and 2 to win the playoff game. This year, he’s kept the team from imploding even though the offensive line was decimated by injury and they lost Marcus Stroud. Garrard ain’t goin’ nowhere nowhere time soon — and even if he does, he plays the exact style of play that some of the people on your “white” list also play.

I know you believe Tomlin will be fired any day now, but , he won’t be. Did you know that the 3 QBs behind Ben are Leftwich, Charlie Batch and Oregon’s Dennis Dixon? Now, Batch is aging, Dixon’s not established, and Leftwich’s appeal was limited — like that of Culpepper — by frequent injuries and limitless talent that demands significant compensation. Detroit rolled the dice. Daunte’s out injured again. If Culpepper’s not playing in two years, what will that prove to you?

DJ Shockley and Seneca Wallace — I’m not going to go there. But let’s just say this is the 4th time you’ve lumped folks together who simply merit more separation. DJ Shockley. Next you’ll be talking about Quincy Carter and Akili Smith.

I think the Steelers are a ‘tired’ team after playing that tough-ass schedule. All that physical play took it’s toll on them, although they were in it until the middle of the 4th QTR. It really pains me to watch that offense.

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Miranda,

Interesting article. The author must’ve been reading my mind.

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Patrick,

Trust me when I tell you….more and more black players are playing the position in high school and college. That will result into an influx of black QBs in the years to come. However, along with that influx will be an offensive coordinator who will implement the RIGHT system into the NFL and take advantage of the athletic QBs skills.

Like I said, the game will always evolve. Pretty soon you will have 300-lb defensive linemen running a 4.4; Linebackers will be running a 4.2 or 4.3. The strength and speed on defense will pretty soon have an advantage over the pocket-passing QB. I think that pocket-presence will always have a home in a team’s offense scheme, the QB will have to become a hybrid. Randall Cunningham, McNabb and Vick were/are ahead of their time. The american public (football fan) have been “dumbed” down to believe that only a pocket-passer can succeed in the NFL. But those of us who know better will always revolt against that brand of thinking.

The GMs can’t and won’t be able to control this evolution. The day will come. Just have patience.

Peace…..

Unless you’re trying to get cats fired or provide a comedic outlet (Kudos for the Quinn Grey reference), I am missing the point….”

Temple, I am not trying to get anyone fired. To clarify… it is very likely that McNabb will get cut and be trying to find a QB job elsewhere. Some have speculated that Minny would be an ideal spot, but there are no guarantees where McNabb may land if Philly decides to release Donovan. We don’t know for sure if Childress will be retained in Minnesota.

In the previous offseason, QBs such as Duante Culpepper and Byron Leftwich were former playoff QBs with winning records as NFL starters trying to find a job on a team, and it took until the middle of preseason when Pittsburgh tabbed Leftwich, and Duante retired and was finally signed at mid-season. As for Quinn Gray (to a lesser extent), he had been a backup, but performed in emergency situations when he backed up David Garrard in Jacksonville and did alright–winning a few games (showing potential). Gray has some talent, but other backups such as Matt Schaub was able to secure a multi-year contract for Houston, but Quinn Gray had a a more difficult time finding any QB job (just as much as Culpepper and Leftwich).. Heck Atlanta’s Chris Redman who had been out of football for four years prior to 2007 is the backup QB for the Falcons and signed a million dollar QB.

The impact of African-American as starting QBs is at a crossroads in my opinion. When Vick gets out of jail, it will be interesting what kind of market will be available and what kind of interest he will garner. More and more GMs would rather have the older, traditional veteran such as Kerry Collins, Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia, Jon Kitna and even a Chris Redman and it may be a continuing trend.

Whether you are higher profile, more successful QB such as McNabb or even Vick or a career backup with potential such as Troy Smith, D.J. Shockley, Seneca Wallace and yes Quinn Gray, GMs may not be as willing to give them an opportunity to succeed as a NFL starter or even occupy 2nd string. That window that opened wide open with the emergence of McNabb and Vick at the turn of the century may be slowly closing towards the end of this decade.

Man you are too funny!

The Eagles need some better receivers.

Unless you’re trying to get cats fired or provide a comedic outlet (Kudos for the Quinn Grey reference), I am missing the point.

More on that later — but I just wanted to say that the Brandon Jacobs Effect is REAL. Derrick Ward is the happiest man in America to see Jacobs back — and the Giants tell the Panthers, “GET OUT!!!!”