ESPN Lies Again About Black Quarterbacks

ESPN's The Undefeated, again, lied to its readers this week when it published a column claiming that the NFL's system is racist against black quarterbacks. The premise of the story is that Justin Fields won't go as high in the draft as ESPN would like and white quarterbacks, like Mac Jones, could go higher than ESPN prefers. Thus, ESPN blames systemic racism.

The writer, some guy named Martenzie Johnson, printed quotes that seriously make you wonder if he's so obsessed with skin color that it has blinded his ability to think in a coherent manner.

"When it comes to black quarterbacks in particular, the NFL has long gone out of its way to keep the position as white as the painted yard lines on the field," Johnson writes.

That paragraph, undoubtedly, plays well with ESPN management and other potential employers. Perhaps, that's worth it if one is willing to report a lie, a lie that can be debunked in seconds if sports writers weren't rewarded with job security for increasing racial division.

"Trying to keep the position as white as the painted yard lines on the field," huh?

Anyone want to tell Johnson and his race-baiting employer that the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes, is black? Or that the second-highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, Dak Prescott, is black? Or that the third-highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, Deshaun Watson, is black? Or even that the fourth-highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, Russell Wilson, is black? Seems noteworthy.

What a pathetic line to write and then promote, which ESPN has:

The idea that black quarterbacks are left behind in the draft is equally idiotic and wrong. Jameis Winston, despite narrowly avoiding rape charges in college, went first overall. Jamarcus Russell, Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and Michael Vick also went first overall. ESPN, of course, won't publish that information. Those drafts must not be recorded in the databases.

ESPN has sent a message: in years that black quarterbacks are top prospects, race is not a factor. In drafts that white quarterbacks may go sooner, race should be the headline. The goal is simple: intimidate teams so they are afraid to draft white quarterbacks.

It's hard to think of a more dangerous and dishonest process than this. ESPN is literally paying employees to lie and obsess over each athlete's skin color. That's the job -- to say, despite all evidence, that black athletes have it worse than white athletes. You could do this too if you're willing to accept a life as a pathetic, race-baiting stooge.

Here's the truth: not everything is about race. A lot isn't about race. The quarterback position isn't about race, it's about performance. And that terrifies sports outlets and writers like Martenzie Johnson.