That only works if Crouch had any sliver of ability to actually be a QB, which he didn't.

 

He wasn't given a chance.  When he left college, he'd accomplished things most never had at the position.  Were he around today, he'd be looked at more like Manziel is.  The shorter, shiftier QBs who can run are given more looks than when he entered the league.  Sorry if that's too inconvenient a truth for you.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

Stop. Crouch was nowhere near as good as Manziel is.

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Stop. Crouch was nowhere near as good as Manziel is.

This, I (painfully) have to agree with. Crouch was a running back masquerading as a QB. Would he maybe be given a shot at QB in the pros if he were in the 2014 draft instead of the 2002? Sure, but lest we all forget, Crouch did get a chance to play QB in the CFL eventually. He was the fourth-string QB behind, among others, Spergon Wynn. Does anyone else remember the two times that the Jaguars faced Spergon Wynn-led NFL teams, and demolished those teams 48-0 and 51-3 (I think)? Wynn had a career NFL QB rating of 39.5, 0.1 points lower than if every single pass he threw had been incomplete. Eric Crouch couldn't beat him for the third-string job in Canada; what hope did the guy have of ever being a solid QB in the US, regardless of how similar his size and athleticism are to Johnny Booziel?

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No.

 

First off, I wasn't talking actual team decision makers.  I don't believe anybody who posts here has any access to NFL decisionmakers, much less has the trust of those decisionmakers to divulge information to them.  I am referring to common fans, pundits, media talking heads, etc.  If you had a QB who turned his team around, took his team to the Super Bowl and numerous other playoff appearances, and multiple pro bowls, in most instances, they'd be held in some esteem.  But take a look at the visceral response whenever someone chimes in on McNabb.

 

Secondly, the fact you acknowledge the "knuckleheads" is an admission race may be a factor in some of the derision towards Bridgewater.

 

Finally, we are talking about the view of Manziel from fans, pundits, etc.  Without question, there would be a completely different dynamic on the board if we were talking about Bridgewater being the wild eyed, party animal, outspoken scrambler who has had questionable dealings that ran him afoul of the NCAA, has fought teammates and taunted opponents vs the cerebral, understated pocket passer Manziel.

 

Lest you think this isn't the case, consider the response to Shack when he did not draft Brady Quinn in 2007 (despite having Leftwich and Garrard on the roster).  There were many who argued Shack was racist for having all of these black QBs on the roster and not drafting Quinn.  Nevermind that: 

 

1.  From a talent perspective, Shack was absolutely right on Quinn; and

2.  Shack only brought in one of the three black QBs on the roster (Leftwich).

 

Conversely, after Gene Smith brought in Gabbert, who proved to be far more of a monumental failure than BL and Garrard (and Quinn, for that matter), not once did anyone suggest he had any racial motive (conscious or subconscious) in doing so.

 

The sad truth is the escapist activity of message board pontification on football isn't immune from bias-conscious or subconscious.  Does that represent the majority of criticism towards Bridgewater?  No.  But to suggest it plays zero role in the criticism is naive.  It goes in many different directions, and white players often get the wrong end of presumptions based on race in sports.

 

You may very well be right, esp when it comes to this board.

 

But I think its crazy to say if Johnny Manziel were Black he wouldn't be considered a 1st round talent. Talking trash is talking trash.....but it's not like the guy was being arrested or constantly being around illegal activity.

 

If any player accomplished what Manziel accomplished in college he would be considered a 1st talent whether white, black, latino/hispanic, native american, asian, etc...

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Stop. Crouch was nowhere near as good as Manziel is.

Never said he was.  Just that he'd be making conversations about being a wildcard because of his style of QB play (like Manziel) and yes, probably would have a MUCH better chance at being given a shot at QB if he were coming out today.

 

The point is the flip side of what GreeceMonkE just said (much better than I did, obviously.)  He certainly wasn't given any favors because of his race, which, if were true... he would have.  It's talent (or perceived talent,) not color that gets you recognized.  This is not the era of Shack Harris (the player.)  We're well beyond those days.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

Woah... Where'd all the Bridgewater hate come from? You see one bad pro day and ignore the rest of the tape?

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Woah... Where'd all the Bridgewater hate come from? You see one bad pro day and ignore the rest of the tape?

It's amazing really.

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I think Bridgewater at 3 is better value than Mack at 3, yes.

 

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LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. Clown.
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It's amazing really.

it's like an influx of newbies/young ins that kill the intelligence of this board.

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