Everyone thought this game was going to be a blowout. With the snow cleared from Lincoln Financial Field it was a no brainer (Mike Vick would be able to run and gun with ease). So how did the Chicago Bears end up with a 1st round playoff bye and the #2 seed in the National Football Conference?
Joe Webb and the Minnesota Vikings were good enough to beat a good team that played like an average one. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell should have kept his big fat mouth shut. He probably helped give fuel to a Minnesota team that was already mad that the game was postponed. Remember that Minnesota and Chicago were playing out in frigid weather the week before. Minnesota was probably tired of staying in a hotel and wanted to get out of the city. Philly sports fans are cruel – I cheer for the Cowboys so I know!!!
But the hero of the game was Minnesota Quarterback Joe Webb. Webb played QB for the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Conference USA. Just like most black QB’s that play in college, the National Football League gets amnesia and doesn’t know what to do with them. He was drafted in the 6th round as a wide receiver (go figure). His talent was described by Draft pundits as the following:
Webb is a size/speed prospect with the impressive arm strength to be viewed as a developmental project. Overall physical tools allow him to contribute in a variety of ways. Needs a lot of refinement reading defenses and with his passing fundamentals. Potential late-round pick or undrafted free agent prospect.
That doesn’t sound like the guy that played against Philadelphia last night. Most black QB’s start off at a disadvantage because they don’t fit the typical NFL QB mold. The solution is to break the mold!!! It’s unrealistic to hold these young men to the same standard as Johnny Unitas. They spend high school and college playing as QB’s so that is all they know. So coaches shouldn’t shake their heads when they have a tough time catching footballs and running routes (THEY AREN’T RECEIVERS). I have to congratulate former Minnesota coach Brad Childress for realizing the talent that Webb had and switching him to QB.
