The Pigskin Guy

Source: gcobb.com

Is anyone else getting sick and tired of every single person in the media comparing one white player to another white player? Each season we hear how every white receiver on the planet reminds media people of Wes Welker. It doesn’t matter if the receiver is 6’2 and has no quickness. If he’s white, he reminds people of Welker. The Sporting News‘ Russ Lande is the latest culprit to fall into this trap.

In a recent article Lande compares former Boston College LB Luke Kuechly to the Bears Brian Urlacher. Here’s what Lande wrote:

“Kuechly compares favorably to Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher, who is stronger and more physical dealing with blockers. Kuechly is a smoother athlete and better in pass coverage.”

Now how funny is that? Usually when one compares a player to another player they follow it up by telling you why the two are similar. Not here. Lande says Kuechly compares favorably to Urlacher and then spends the next two sentences telling us why the two players are nothing alike. So why does he compare the two? Simple. They’re both white linebackers.

Let me say that I don’t believe this is a racism issue at all. Lande and others in the media don’t do this because they’re racist. They do it because they’re lazy. Instead of looking for a linebacker Kuechly really does resemble, Lande takes the easy way out and compares the white rookie to the best white linebacker to play in the NFL over the last decade. He’s not doing it with any malicious intent. Lande is just being lazy.

With Urlacher getting older, thank God the Cowboys Sean Lee is emerging as an elite player. Now media people like Lande will still have a good white ILB to use as comparison for draft prospects. That’s a relief.

The same thing goes on with the receivers. Years ago every white receiver was compared to Ed McCaffrey. Now McCaffrey is 6’5, yet I would hear announcers compare white slot receivers to him. Really? Because the two couldn’t be any different.

Now every Saturday without fail I write on Twitter all of the white receivers in college I hear compared to Welker. In my opinion it’s a slap in the face to Welker. We’re talking about a guy who is the best at what he does in all of football. You’re telling me every white receiver on the planet does the same thing as Welker? That’s an absolute joke.

We’ve also seen this done with Boise State OLB Shea McClellin during the draft process. He’s already being compared to Clay Matthews. I watched tape on McClellin and I don’t see Matthews at all. Oh wait, they’re both white, so they must play the same way. I’ll bet you $1 though if you watch tape of McClellin and the Steelers Lawrence Timmons you will see a lot of similarities. Let’s just pray the Patriots don’t draft McClellin. Then we’ll have to hear for the next 10 years how he reminds everyone in the media of Mike Vrabel.

I used to think this was funny but it’s getting to the point where it’s downright annoying. These major media outlets should be hiring people that aren’t so lazy they need to compare every white player to another white player. And the fact that no one notices that this goes on all the time borders on disturbing. What are all of these editors doing? They don’t see what me and many others are seeing? Way to earn that $60,000 a year guys. Keep up the great work.

We see it the other way too, especially at quarterback. Robert Griffin is athletic, while Andrew Luck is smart. In reality, both players are actually smart and athletic. Cam Newton is the next Mike Vick, not the next John Elway. Again, it’s just laziness. Try comparing guys based on style of play and talent level instead of the color of their skin. That would be a refreshing change.

By the way, I’ll give you a new one to watch for this year. Count how many times announcers compare Nebraska RB Rex Burkhead to Peyton Hillis this season. I’ll set the Over/Under on that one at 74.5.

Maybe I’m just too color blind for my own good and I’m actually in the wrong here. I really don’t give a rat’s ass if a person is white, black, orange, gay, straight, etc. I really don’t, especially when it comes to breaking down players in sports. I remember growing up a Dallas fan people would say to me, “Troy Aikman is gay.” My response was always, “So? Why would I care? Is he still throwing touchdown passes and leading the Cowboys to wins? That’s all that maters to me.”

I just can’t wait for the day when there’s another good white cornerback in the NFL.  I bet he won’t remind anyone in the media of Jason Sehorn.