I don’t know what it feels like to be Olivia and Archie Manning, who every four years have to watch their sons do battle against each other on the gridiron. This Sunday, I’ll get a small taste of it when Donovan McNabb and the Washington Football Team face off with Michael Vick and the Eagles. The plight of the black QB in society is often talked about and still in issue in the NFL. As a black fan, I root for most black QBs harder than any other position. On Sunday, I’m going to be lost.
[pagebreak]
Do I root for Donovan? Or Vick? Donovan has been through it all playing in Philly. From draft day boos,to never winning the big one, dealing with Terrell Owens and his many personalities, and the ungrateful people also known as Philadelphia Eagles fans.
[pagebreak]
Vick has imposed self-inflicted wounds on himself countless times so it’s hard to feel sorry for him or jump back on the bandwagon in fear of him letting me down again. I was the happiest person in the world when the Eagles signed him, but I had to take a step back after his latest incident at this 30th birthday party this Summer. I’m happy about Vick’s success, but I’m rooting from afar. Not to offend anyone, but his past transgressions don’t bother me as much as his admitted lack of work ethic.
‘There was a lot more I could have done off the field and in the film room that could have elevated my game to a different level,’ Vick said. ‘I was complacent at the time, somewhat lazy, and I settled for mediocrity. I thought what I was doing was enough. Just imagine what I could have been doing if I really would have been applying myself. That’s a regret I have.’
It’s crazy because Donovan lost his job in Philly because he got hurt and Kevin Kolb played well in his absence so they figured he was expendable and they needed to move onto their “quarterback of the future”. Vick got his job because Kolb got hurt, and he wouldn’t even be in Philly quite possibly not even the league if Donovan hadn’t told the Eagles to go get that boy like Suge got Tupac.
[pagebreak]
So what do I do? Who am I leaning towards? Who is the “People’s” quarterback? As much as I root for both QBs neither one of these ninjas is my kin, so I’m leaning towards one, and that would be The Vick Experience. Donovan maybe more media friendly, easier to root for, has less time left in his career to win a Super Bowl, etc. But Vick is undoubtedly the most exciting player since Barry Sanders retired in 1999 and yes, that includes Randy Moss, Ladanian Tomlinson and Devin Hester. I also want to see Vick silence all of his critics with consistent and elite play.
Sorry D-Mac, I want to see you do well and win that elusive Super Bowl, just after Moss, Woodson, and Vick win theirs. You gotta wait in line homie. Yo, Mike….just keep up the good work, because I want to get back on the bandwagon, I just got make sure
