The Newest Black Quarterback

"I'm  just doin' me!"

It's only natural for people to hate what they don't understand. For years  black quarterbacks in the NFL have been told that they couldn't play in this league not because they were necessarily black but because they were different. He plays with a different style and swagger that most find to be offensive. They aren't the prototypical passer that stands in the pocket. They've always had the ability to make plays without going the traditional route. Even though black quarterbacks have managed to win ball games they still never get the credit for leading the team to victory.

Any of that sound familiar to you? Tim Tebow is the new white chocolate. He's so different in the way that he plays the game that people want to see him fail. The media wants to say that in order to play quarterback in the NFL you have to play like Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers etc. That simply isn't true and Tebow is once again proving folks wrong.

In 1953 Willie Thrower became the first black quarterback to play in the NFL. He played in one game for the Chicago Bears against the San Francisco 49'rs and it was his one and only NFL game. Thrower relieved the current quarterback, George Blanda. It would be another 18 years before Marlin "The Magician" Briscoe would star in the AFL as a quarterback for the Denver Bronco's. He was originally drafted in the 14th round as a defensive back but negotiated a 3 day trial at quarterback. He did so well that they named him the starter the very next week.

Sound familiar! The Denver Bronco’s once again has a guy that is doing so well that they HAD to make him the starter even though the head coach and VP of football Operations didn‘t want to. As Tebow continues to win the haters keep saying that he can't play quarterback in the NFL. He's won 5 out of 6 games but he can't play quarterback in the NFL? It's asinine to continue to say that he can't play when he's in fact playing.

All I keep hearing is, "he can't do this or he can't do that!" but I keep wiping my eyes because all I see him do is win. I keep asking myself is this kid black or white because I've never in my life seen a white quarterback win ball games and the powers that be keep telling me that I'm not seeing what I saw?

Doug Williams had to win the Super Bowl and the MVP to go along with it before people said that he could play quarterback in the NFL. I'm trippin' because there have been tons of guys that have played the position for years that were garbage and didn't get this type of scrutiny. Remember Jim McMahon with the 1985 Chicago Bears? He was horrible from a skill perspective but was a great leader. However, he managed the game without turning the ball over which allowed the defense to win games. Ever heard of Trent Dilfer? Not very good but managed the game which allowed Ray Lewis and Co. to succeed in winning the Super Bowl! In both instances they were given credit for leading their teams to victory.

So why are people acting like Tim Tebow is the first guy to manage a game and let the defense make plays to win games? How quickly do we forget that Big Ben Roethlisburger was only allowed to manage the games during his first Super Bowl run? Now I'm not suggesting that Tebow will win the Super Bowl or even make it deep into the playoffs. However, I am saying that he can play quarterback in the NFL because I can see with my own eyes that he is in fact doing it.

You can throw all of the stats you want at me but the only one that means anything is wins vs. losses! The Bronco's were 1-4 when he took over as the starter. Now they're 5-1 with his inability to throw the football that will never work in the NFL. Tebow is like the white kid that eventually pledges the black fraternity on campus because he's got more in common with the brothers than he previously thought. Over the years, people hating has very little to do with race or skill set but everything to do with being different. Go Tebow!

Holla At Ya Boy!
Jay Graves
Twitter:@jaygravesreport