Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 9-6-19

Sports
Welcome To The Year Of The 9 Starting Black Quarterbacks
Jacoby Brissett Gets
This is week zero of a new NFL. The reigning MVP is a Black quarterback, the high- est-paid player in league his- tory is a black QB, the No. 1 overall draft pick is a black sig- nal-caller, multiple franchises have Black men as their face who are also in line for new deals in excess of $100 mil- lion. After decades of being blocked, Black folk have changed the NFL under cen- ter, and the league will never be the same.
Quarterback was once the one roster spot off-limits to black players. For most of the league’s history, the language wasn’t even coded: Black peo- ple weren’t smart enough or tough enough or courageous enough to lead. But that nar- rative didn’t fit the facts. As the NFL grew from zero per- cent black at its genesis to nearly 70% 100 years later, generations of now hidden black men couldn’t let that stand. Never forget: Breaking down barriers is what we do. We didn’t ask for this path but we don’t shirk in the face of it
back isn’t simply a matter of talent and determination, win- ning and losing, dollars and sense. It is still a struggle to be black and stay under center — a fight that can be lost simply because the playing ground still isn’t equal.
A franchise quarterback is the face of his team. Unitas. Namath. Bradshaw. Staubach. Montana. Marino. Elway. Aikman. Manning. Rodgers. Brady. The LeBrons of the NFL. All, at one time or another, the leading icons of the nation’s most popular sport. And all white men. Now, add these young brothers to the list of starting Week 1: Russell Wilson, Patrick Ma- homes, Jameis Winston, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, DeShaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Kyle Murray.
LeSean McCoy Shares Why He Picked Chiefs Over Chargers
LESEAN MCCOY
Running back LeSean McCoy had two rather appeal- ing options after being released by the Buffalo Bills. In the end, he opted to pick the Kansas City Chiefs over the Los Angeles Chargers.
McCoy would have had a large role with the Chargers given Melvin Gordon’s ongo- ing holdout, and may find him- self locked in a timeshare in Kansas City. However, he felt comfortable reuniting with Chiefs coach Andy Reid, found Kansas City closer to his seven-year-old son than Los Angeles, and preferred the in- come tax rate he’d get from signing with the Chiefs instead of playing in California.
Extension From Colts
RUSSELL WILSON
either.
Even so, don’t get it
twisted. The ascent of the Black quarterback doesn’t sig- nal that the NFL is now a col- orblind utopia. The next owner who provides a full- throated endorsement of any player, let alone a starting quarterback, who protests against police brutality and systemic oppression before games will be the first. Colin Kaepernick should have an opportunity to show where he belongs within this quorum. The most famous black quar- terback in the world hasn’t played in nearly three years. Kap serves as a reminder that The Year of the Black Quarter-
The Indianapolis Colts were not lying when they said they believed in Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett and the Colts have agreed to a two-year contract extension. The deal pays him $20 million guaran- teed as a signing bonus.
Between Brissett and Brian Hoyer, the Colts were making deals with quarter- backs on Monday. The team also reached a 3-year, $12
JACOBY BRISSETT
million deal with Brian Hoyer that gives him $9 mil- lion guaranteed.
Two-Year Contract
Jared Goff, Rams Reportedly
Agree To Massive Four-Year
Contract Extension
Jared Goff’s contract status has been a big question for the Los Angeles Rams all offseason, and the team is an- swering those questions with a big deal.
The Rams are signing Goff to a four-year contract extension that keeps him with the team through 2024. The deal is expected to contain the largest guarantee in NFL his- tory.
The largest amount guar-
JARED GOFF
anteed at signing went to Matt Ryan, who received $94.5M from the Falcons.
Eagles Offered To Trade
Jordan Howard, Draft
Pick For Melvin Gordon
The Los Angeles Chargers have given Melvin Gordon permission to seek a trade in advance of the regular season, and one team that reportedly has some interest is the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chargers turned down an offer from the Eagles that would have sent running back Jordan Howard and a mid- round draft pick to LA in ex- change for Gordon.
Reports have indicated the Chargers want a first-round pick in addition to another draft pick for Gordon, so it makes sense that they turned
MELVIN GORDON
Philly’s offer down. They may have trouble getting that much, however, as Gordon has a history of knee issues and has just one year remain- ing on his contract.
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