My Black Quarterback Agenda Continues!

Oh ladies and gentlemen it has been a while since I graced the hallowed pages of the Puma blog, but I felt that the time was right for me to return to the written word because I feel that you, my loyal readers deserve to know my feelings on the subject. Now what could be of such importance that I had to come back and right about it? The new president and his administration? No. A global pandemic? Nuh uh. The thing that has so ruffled a brother's collar has been the coverage of black quarterbacks in the NFL. You're damn right. 

So coming into the playoffs, one of the most prevalent storylines was "Can Lamar Jackson finally get over the hump and win a playoff game?" What makes it an absolutely bullshit narrative is the only person who got this was Jackson when guys like Phillip Rivers, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Allen all skated. 

The 2019 MVP, Big Truss, Woo Woo

Jackson just competed in his third season, and second as full time starter and we, we being the national media, not you my loyal reader, you good, treated Jackson as a guy who has been to the playoffs for years yet never sniffed a win. And therein lies the difference in how these quarterbacks are viewed. 

For instance, Josh Allen has had an amazing season.

He does have flaws to his game, yet to mention these and you are going to be drowned out by how he is a transcendent talent, an MVP candidate, etc etc etc. Allen led the Bills to the playoffs last season, yet there was no talk coming into these playoffs of "if he was able to win in the playoffs." Nor should there have been I would like to reiterate. But in comparing the treatment of Jackson to Allen, let's look at the numbers shall we? 

In 3 seasons, Jackson has a better win percentage, higher completion percentage, more passing tds, higher QB rating, fewer interceptions, more rushing yards and a higher yards per rush average. Not to mention Jackson had a historically great season winning MVP in 2019 with 36 passing tds to only 6 interceptions. Add to that 1,200 rushing yards and 7 more tds on the ground and you have a guy who should be getting praise instead of needless scrutiny. 

Now back to Allen, who I would like to state is a cool football player. The things he can do are amazing, he is definitely a guy who should be lauded. But let's pump the brakes on some of the more hyperbolic praise shall we? I saw the question posed, that basically asked had Allen caught up to Patrick Mahomes. 

And to this I state, are you on crack if you believe this? Something has clearly altered your way of thinking or clouded your judgement. So allow me to run down some of the accomplishments of this man, who like Allen is just in his 3rd year as a full time starter.

• Super Bowl champion (LIV)
• Super Bowl MVP (LIV)
• NFL Most Valuable Player (2018)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2018)
• First-team All-Pro (2018)
• Second-team All-Pro (2020)
• 3× Pro Bowl (2018–2020)
• NFL passing touchdowns leader (2018)
• Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2020)

Allen has 1 - Pro Bowl and 1- 2nd Team All Pro to his resume. A great start to his career but what we are seeing in Mahomes is unprecedented. In the media's attempts to anoint the next Great White Hope let's not overlook the undisputed champion and all of the other "dual threat" quarterbacks that will be running the league sooner rather than later. 

Hopefully soon the narrative crafted will match the accomplishments of the young men who achieved the..