Not just black qb's, but any athletic qb. I feel like General Managers and Head Coaches are demanding these QB's to change positions simply because they are great athletes.
Why can't players like Brad Smith of the Jets, Reggie McNeal of the Bengals and a full list of others, past and present allowed to try out at QB. Even Eric Crouch of Nebraska was drafted as a Reciever. Warren Moon had to go to Canada for 5 years before any NFL team took him at QB. And as the story goes...All Moon did was have a Hall Of Fame career.
2006-07-06 05:01:40 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Football (American)
Fair? Hmmm...that's a tough question.
GMs & Head Coaches fall into one of two philosophical categories: 1. Those who have a "system" and acquire players through the draft and free agency to fit that system and, 2. Those who look at the players they have and design their "system" around the strength of those players.
The Category 1 folks (Think Bill Parcells) are not going to look at non-traditional types playing ANY position.
The Category 2 folks (Think Bill Cowher) will consider anyone with athletic ability for any position but history has usually burned them (See Kordell Stewart) and they are not anxious to take that sort of chance again with the position which leads their offense.
The fact remains that as long as these GMs and Head Coaches have little or no job stability, they will not take a chance on "redefining" the Quarterback position.
And why should they? What QB in recent memory has been successful while maintaining a "run first" attitude?
Steve Young? Not successful until he learned to sit in the pocket and go through his progression of reads. Yes, he still ran (a lot) but only as a last resort. The ever-popular West Coast offense, which incidentally is run by Atlanta, requires the QB to make multiple reads. Until Michael Vick learns these skills and decides that running the ball himself is the last resort, he will never be a great QB in the NFL. He will always be a great athlete...but it takes more than great athleticism to be a great QB.
Is this fair? I guess that depends on your definition.
I would say that it is fair to football fans who want to see their teams win football games.
BTW, Warren Moon does not fit your argument. First, he was a great pocket passer. And it wasn't his athleticism that kept him from being drafted by the NFL as a QB. It was racism. At the time, the general consensus amongst NFL GMs was that a black man wasn't "smart enough" to play the position. Thankfully, the Houston Oilers finally gave him a chance and he did an excellent job of proving the naysayers wrong.
2006-07-06 05:32:46 · answer #1 · answered by Rev Phred 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
LOL, thats the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Its because they change positions that they can make it in the league. They arent good enough to unseat the starting QB ahead of them. Do you really think that the Bengals have spent that much time and money working with Palmer, to let McNeal take away the spot? Hell no. So what would happen to McNeal if he didnt switch positions? He would either be on the practice squad, or he would be waived. These guys are almost certainly more than happy to change positions, because it means that they will actually have a shot at playing in the NFL. So yes, its totally fair- the NFL is not High School football, after all.
2006-07-06 05:07:27 · answer #2 · answered by bmwdriver11 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its easy to sit back and say this without seeing what it was that led to the decision to try and make a college QB into a WR. The transition from college to the NFL isn't an easy one. The defenses are more complex and the speed of the game steps up yet another notch. It isn't enough to be the best athlete on the field, you're going to surrounded with great athletes. You have to be prepared and intelligent enough at the QB position to read coverages as you're dropping back to pass. It isn't enough to be able to freelance your way into an eight yard gain when the play breaks down in the NFL...sure, you can probably do it sometimes (see Mike Vick), but you run the risk of getting hurt as well.
Sure, sometimes teams are wrong about a guy (Moon), but the guys like Vick and Young...keep in mind that a team with a QB like that at the helm is ALWAYS going to have trouble coming from behind if the QB is not capable of reading complex defenses when they're in a must pass situation. That why, with the exception of Steve Young (who could run, but still was a pass first QB), no "athletic" QB has won a thing in the NFL.
2006-07-06 05:09:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only is it fair but it should be expected. Players are lucky to be drafted into the NFL and if the coach thinks that another position will put that team in the best position to win then he should be excited to be considered to play. There are a few rare instances like Warren Moon but for the most part scouts and coaches know what they are doing. Also, none of these players have ever won a superbowl. Unless you count Doug Williams who really wasnt even known as a scrambling quarterback.
2006-07-06 07:59:47 · answer #4 · answered by drunkbomber 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The team is drafting YOU, not the other way around. They are investing heavily in your talents, so yes they have every right to place you into whatever position they feel is right for them. You don't like it, move on, try another team, go to canada....don't expect special treatment cause for everyone 1 drafted there are 50 hoping just for the chance.
2006-07-06 06:38:03 · answer #5 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they are great athletes then sure, its fair. The coach is the head of the team, and he switches them because he thinks that it will help the team. IF the player doesnt like it, and if he is that athletic as to play two positions, then he could switch teams right?
2006-07-06 05:07:57 · answer #6 · answered by Led_head 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the general mangers are too conservative when it comes to how a qb should play, no more are theose that just stand in the pocket and get there brains beat in like peyton manning, now you need a scrambling qb like kordell stewart ot randall cunningham the best that ever was at it
2006-07-06 05:05:04 · answer #7 · answered by onegoalonedestiny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would've made a much better case for yourself if you had said Matt Jones, the new WR of the Jags.
2006-07-06 05:31:09 · answer #8 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was in Vietnam for six years and no one ever asked me to change my position. I think it is unfair and wrong to demand that of someone else.
2006-07-06 05:10:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
casue either there to small or cant throw the ball likes its needed in the NFL
2006-07-06 06:29:16 · answer #10 · answered by Mr.Rodgers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋