Limbaugh stands by McNabb race remarks

AP | 10/01/03 | ROB MAADDI

[kattracks]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rush Limbaugh insisted Wednesday he had "no racist intent whatsoever" in saying the media have overrated the Philadelphia Eagles' Donovan McNabb because they want to see a black quarterback succeed.

In fact, the conservative commentator said he must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage.

Limbaugh offered no apology, and McNabb said it was too late for one anyway.

"I'm sure he's not the only one that feels that way, but it's somewhat shocking to actually hear that on national TV," the NFL star said. "An apology would do no good because he obviously thought about it before he said it."

Before McNabb led the Eagles to a 23-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Limbaugh said on ESPN's pregame show that he did not think McNabb was as good as he was perceived to be.

"I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well," Limbaugh said. "There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

Limbaugh did not back down during his syndicated radio talk show Wednesday.

He reiterated that he does not think McNabb is a bad player, just that he isn't as good as some members of the media think he is.

"This is such a mountain out of a molehill," he said. "There's no racism here, there's no racist intent whatsoever."

"All this has become the tempest that it is because I must have been right about something," he said. "If I wasn't right there wouldn't be this cacophony of outrage that has sprung up in the sports writer community."

On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark said Limbaugh should be fired. The retired Army general called the remarks "hateful and ignorant speech."

The NFL disclaimed any responsibility for Limbaugh's remarks.

"ESPN knew what it was getting when they hired Rush Limbaugh," league vice president Joe Browne said. "ESPN selects its on-air talent, not the NFL."

ESPN spokesman Dave Nagle said he did not believe the comments were racially biased. "He was comparing McNabb's performance on the field to his reputation in the media," Nagle said.

Chris Berman, who anchors the ESPN show, said he did not believe Limbaugh's tone or intent was malicious. "As cut and dry as it seems in print, I didn't think so when it went by my ears," he said. "I probably should have looked to soften it."

McNabb, who was runner-up for the MVP award in 2000 and has led the Eagles to two straight conference championship games, said he has no quarrel with Limbaugh's comment on his playing ability. "I know I played badly the first two games," he said.

But McNabb said that the comments about his race were out of bounds and added that someone on the show should have taken Limbaugh on. Among the other panelists were former players Michael Irvin and Tom Jackson, both of whom are black.

"I'm not pointing at anyone but someone should have said it," McNabb said of the panelists, who also include Berman and Steve Young. "I wouldn't have cared if it was the cameraman."

A decade ago, there were few black quarterbacks in the NFL. This season, 10 of the 32 teams will have started black quarterbacks in at least one game.

Limbaugh has helped increase the ratings for "Sunday NFL Countdown." Nagle said ratings are up 10 percent overall. Sunday's show drew its biggest audience in the regular season since 1996.

Limbaugh is the radio host of the politically focused "Rush Limbaugh Show," which is syndicated in more than 650 markets worldwide.

[steve8714]

all good points. I prefer the more radical voice of Savage most days, but these guys are mostly entertainers anyway.
Rush now has bigger fish to fry.

[dwd1]

As I stated, you feel a need to classify me as opposed to discuss with me...

Why can't we discuss the issue and not each other?

I am capable of saying mean things also, but why should I?

Also, concerning the representation of his opinion, he is entitled to do that and as I have said before... I would ask, "Why did he not take the opportunity to discuss the issue in some forum where he does not control the mike?"

Call me whatever you like but all that you are doing is violating forum policy and showing me that when confronted with an opposing view, you are better at name-calling than debate...

Many in this forum maintain that Rush is mainstream and on many issues, I agree, but this is an area where he needs some work....

Also, I understand that analyst and announcers are paid to give their opinion but they are not supposed to be the story.... They are supposed to tell the story....

I say again... He should not be the story... Here we are discussing him instead of his ideas because he put himself and his personal views ahead of the responsibility that comes with being a responsible commentator that bases their statements more on fact than anything else...

He simply needed some facts to support his position... He does that on so many other issues... Why did he not do that here? And why is he unwilling to share those facts and opinions when those with different facts and opinions are present and prepared to discuss?

I am still waiting for your answer on this one....

I will be here until next Saturday... (don't forget to tip your waitress)

[dwd1]

I am going to wait and see how this other drug thing turns out. I hope he does not have any trouble there....

If nothing else, one has to admit that he puts on a good show and hits the nail on the head on other issues....

[Silas]

McNabb had sucky year in 2000. Why did media try to give him MVP award?

Rush was right!!!


http://msn.sports.espn.go.com/nfl/statistics?stat=pass&sort=rat&league=nfc&season=2&year=2000

[JohnnyZ]

I say again... He should not be the story... Here we are discussing him instead of his ideas because he put himself and his personal views

Rush did not make himself the story. He commented on Donovan McNabb, said he was overrated, and gave his opinion on why that was so, which is what he is paid to do. He was then attacked for giving this opinion, and called a racist -- others made him into the story, essentially because they don't like him.

[JohnnyZ]

And why is he unwilling to share those facts and opinions when those with different facts and opinions are present and prepared to discuss?

Who? The vast majority of the "discussion" has been "Rush is a racist", not addressing what he actually said in any way.

I have said over and over and over that there are no readily available "facts", and will be no straightforward facts, as relates to the sources of alleged media bias, unless some writer is going to come forward and say "yes, I hyped him because he's black" -- who's going to admit to that now, or ever? God's the only one who can prove what's in peoples heart of hearts, so asking Rush to provide that info is disingenuous of you. Rush drew a reasonable conclusion; others disagree; it's a clash of opinion.

[gore_sux]

I'm starting to see the cracks in your armor - I have seen every single game Daunte Culpepper has played in and I can say unequivocally that he does not have what it takes - It is EXTREMELY rare for Moss to catch a deep one with him in the game (whereas Gus already has 3 long TDs and another long reception to Moss, along with 2 long TDs to other receivers.) With Gus in the game, the Vikes are capable of scoring on any play; with Daunte in the game, your'e just glad when he doesn't fumble.

Vick didn't get hurt scrambling.. he was hurt when he was flushed to the right of the pocket

Huh? Since when is being flushed out of the pocket not scrambling? The fact is he's hurt from running around instead of getting rid of the ball. The fact is that McNabb broke his leg and was out for a half a season because he relies on running too much. Meanwhile Favre is working on 100 or 150 straight starts.

You think Jeff Garcia is one of the best QB's in the league? I think this automatically disqualifies you from who the great's are.

Check out the stats yourself, Garcia has more passing touchdowns, more yards, a better quarterback rating, and almost as many rushing touchdowns as McNabb; its not even close. I didn't say Garcia was one of the best, but he's definitely better than McNabb.

[gore_sux]

if you want to bank it on stats you might as well compare him to Jeff Blake

OK

Blake's 2 best years (95-96)

7446 yds - 52 TD - 31 Ints - 626 rushing yds - 4 rushing TDS - Avg rating 81.2

McNabb's "MVP" years (00-01)

6598 yds - 46 TD - 26 Ints - 1111 rushing yds - 8 rushing TDs - Avg rating 81.05

Looks like a wash to me - and I don't remember Blake ever being talked about as the second coming.

[dwd1]

I was thinking that if I were him, I would get some of the articles written by those he believes have overrated McNabb and I would ask them to reconcile the article based on the available data in comparison to other quarterbacks...

If there is such a bias, he could very easily find a pattern of preferential treatment... This is why I am saying that getting supporting info and then having a good discussion would be a good idea... It is the same thing that would happen to a politician if he has something offensive on the congressional record... The statements could be quoted and analyzed....

With the writer also present to defend his conclusions, Rush could then be perceived as being fair and thorough and his opinion would carry even greater weight...

Also, I would love to see a one on one interview with Donovan McNabb and Rush (security on standby) and let them discuss the issues surrounding McNabbb's performance on the field and the way he feels he has been treated by the media...

Engage... Don't hit and run...
My apologies for being disingenuous...

[Bommer]

I'll run circles around you with football knowledge. First off Mcnabb's ability speaks for itself on the field. Remember the game where he broke his ankle in the first quarter? He went on to throw 3 td's in that game that he got that injury. Not only that but who can aruge his sheer toughness. Remember the end of the Jags game last year where he puked on the football field from dehydration? Toughness baby.. toughness. Now run along... I hear Kobe Bryant asking you to defend his off the field sexual prowess

Wrong dumbass! Your talking history. Rush was refering to McNabbs first 2 games. Tell me oh great football wizard, where was McNabb ranked? Wasn't it 2nd to last in stats? Quincy Carter ranked higher then he did! Your comparing history of a player, Rush was talking stats. Too bad you as Mr. Football expert USA isn't smart enough to know that!

[Almondjoy]

Ok then that makes Rush a bigger idiot. He's going to base a player's ability off of two games? Sorry but you lose on both counts. Actually Rush was talking about his ability as a player overall. Sorry to disappoint you again.

[Almondjoy]

Because he didn't win games..... Simple as that. Plus Blake has been medicore since then.. but he still starts. McNabb on the other hand is just maturing. McNabb also doesn't have any weapons on offense. A horrible running game and average receivers. Reid even acknowledged that they needed to take heat off of McNabb with a better running game. They established some of that in their game 3, which by the way they won 23-13. They will continue their "comeback" this week against Washington with a nice pounding of the Skins.

[Bommer]

Dude, if hes so Hall of Fame, put up his stats! He's got nothing! If you ever watched a Philly game you would see that the defense is the only thing worth a crap in Philidelphia! But your "Mr. Football" and you know your game. Tell me something, Why is it that most of these guys of McNabb preceded Limbaughs opinions? Maybe its because they are watching something your not, Philly football!

http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/10/3/100947.shtml CBS Says McNabb Tops 'Overrated' List

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/football/nfl/09/16/burning.questions/index.html”> Sports Illustrated online columnist "What distinction does Donovan McNabb deserve these days?"

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/16/3f67206f8e5f1”> Donovan McNabb is another version of Kordell Stewart

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/16/3f67206f8e5f1 Speaking of McNabb, just how overrated is this guy? What has he ever really done?

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/09/16/3f67206f8e5f1 Rush was right! McNabb is over-rated!

[Almondjoy]

First of all I haven't seen anyone touting him as "Hall of Fame". Here's the deal. McNabb led his team to two NFC championship games. He's still young(only been the league for his 4th season now). The Eagles thought he was so good they threw a ton of money at him(oh wait the Eagles don't want to win.. they want a black QB to succeed to.) The Eagles are business.. they go blindly throwing around money because the "media" tells them too.

Everyone deserves their opinion. Some think McNabb is overrated. Many do not. Either way that wasn't the issue. Rush pushed his political agenda into the football world. Stupid move. There will always be players that are over-rated or under-rated because the world has a whole rainbow of opinions. The problem Rush made is that he didn't see those opinions as color blind like they are. He told a bold face lie on national TV.

Thanks for playing.

[Bommer]

He told a boldface lie after I gave you several links backing up what he said was true? Is not the Eagles BTW he was critising, it was the Philly media. Since you STILL rufuse to put up his stats, knowing he is not that great and that the Philly defense (comprised of mostly black players) have been proping him up, chew on this slice of reality from Allen Barra, proof you have no clue as to what your talking about. Grab some stats and grow up! :

McNabb has started for the Eagles since the 2000 season. In that time, the Eagles offense has never ranked higher than 10th in the league in yards gained. In fact, their 10th-place rank in 2002 was easily their best; in their two previous seasons, they were 17th in a 32-team league. They rank 31st so far in 2003.

In contrast, the Eagles defense in those four seasons has never ranked lower than 10th in yards allowed. .In 2001, they were seventh; in 2002 they were fourth; this year they're fifth. It shouldn't take a football Einstein to see that the Eagles' strength over the past few seasons has been on defense, and Limbaugh is no football Einstein, which is probably why he spotted it.

The news that the Eagles defense has "carried" them over this period should be neither surprising nor controversial to anyone with access to simple NFL statistics—or for that matter, with access to a television. Yet, McNabb has received an overwhelming share of media attention and thus the credit. Now why is this?

Let's look at a quarterback with similar numbers who also plays for a team with a great defense. I don't know anyone who would call Brad Johnson one of the best quarterbacks in pro football—which is how McNabb is often referred to. In fact, I don't know anyone who would call Brad Johnson, on the evidence of his 10-year NFL career, much more than mediocre. Yet, Johnson's NFL career passer rating, as of last Sunday, is 7.3 points higher than McNabb's (84.8 to 77.5), he has completed his passes at a higher rate (61.8 percent to 56.4 percent), and has averaged significantly more yards per pass (6.84 to 5.91). McNabb excels in just one area, running, where he has gained 2,040 yards and scored 14 touchdowns to Johnson's 467 and seven. But McNabb has also been sacked more frequently than Johnson—more than once, on average, per game, which negates much of the rushing advantage.

In other words, in just about every way, Brad Johnson has been a more effective quarterback than McNabb and over a longer period.

And even if you say the stats don't matter and that a quarterback's job is to win games, Johnson comes out ahead. Johnson has something McNabb doesn't, a Super Bowl ring, which he went on to win after his Bucs trounced McNabb's Eagles in last year's NFC championship game by a score of 27-10. The Bucs and Eagles were regarded by everyone as having the two best defenses in the NFL last year. When they played in the championship game, the difference was that the Bucs defense completely bottled up McNabb while the Eagles defense couldn't stop Johnson.

In terms of performance, many NFL quarterbacks should be ranked ahead of McNabb. But McNabb has represented something special to all of us since he started his first game in the NFL, and we all know what that is.

Limbaugh is being excoriated for making race an issue in the NFL. This is hypocrisy. I don't know of a football writer who didn't regard the dearth of black NFL quarterbacks as one of the most important issues in the late '80s and early '90s. (The topic really caught fire after 1988, when Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.)

So far, no black quarterback has been able to dominate a league in which the majority of the players are black. To pretend that many of us didn't want McNabb to be the best quarterback in the NFL because he's black is absurd. To say that we shouldn't root for a quarterback to win because he's black is every bit as nonsensical as to say that we shouldn't have rooted for Jackie Robinson to succeed because he was black. (Please, I don't need to be reminded that McNabb's situation is not so difficult or important as Robinson's—I'm talking about a principle.)

Consequently, it is equally absurd to say that the sports media haven't overrated Donovan McNabb because he's black. I'm sorry to have to say it; he is the quarterback for a team I root for. Instead of calling him overrated, I wish I could be admiring his Super Bowl rings. But the truth is that I and a great many other sportswriters have chosen for the past few years to see McNabb as a better player than he has been because we want him to be.

Rush Limbaugh didn't say Donovan McNabb was a bad quarterback because he is black. He said that the media have overrated McNabb because he is black, and Limbaugh is right. He didn't say anything that he shouldn't have said, and in fact he said things that other commentators should have been saying for some time now. I should have said them myself. I mean, if they didn't hire Rush Limbaugh to say things like this, what they did they hire him for? To talk about the prevent defense?

[Almondjoy]

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

Ok now that I'm done laughing at your post I'd like you to go back and try and watch a football game before posting again. As I've already stated you have failed to look at the players surrounding McNabb. Because again you have failed to write anything less then BS I have to give up on you.

But for an after thought you have again compared a QB to McNabb that has been in the league far longer but more importantly played on a Mid 90's Minnesota offense that was well equipped with a running back and wide receivers, plus had an offense that was wide open(move the ball far down field) rather than a ball control offense than Philly runs(relies on the defense as well they should).

You better come up with more than you got so far if you want to prove your point.

[Bommer]

As I've already stated you have failed to look at the players surrounding McNabb. Because again you have failed to write anything less then BS I have to give up on you.

Again the comment was about McNabb. Rush said that it was Phillys Defense that carried the team. Man you just don't know Sh!t about football do you. Stats speak for themselves! These aren't hall of fame stats!

ESPN.com | NFL on ESPN.com | NFL Player Index | Fantasy Football

Player Search

#5 Donovan McNabb   Philadelphia Eagles | Roster

RAT 51.3

YDS 664

TD 1

Height: 6-2
Weight: 240 lbs.
Pos: Quarterback

Age: 26
Born: November 25, 1976, Chicago , IL
Drafted: 1999, 1st Round, 2nd Pick by Philadelphia Eagles.
Experience: 5 years
College: Syracuse

Status: Probable Sun. vs Was. 10/2 (Thumb)

Profile | Fantasy | Statistics | Splits | Game Log | Auctions | Track this Player | Search: ESPN | Web

SEASON STATS | CAREER STATISTICS
				-- PASSING --											-- RUSHING --
YEAR	TEAM	G	GS	COM	ATT	PCT	YDS	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SK	SYD	RAT	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
1999	PHI	12	6	106	216	49.1	948	4.39	63	8	7	28	204	60.1	47	313	6.7	27	0
2000	PHI	16	16	330	569	58.0	3365	5.91	70	21	13	45	262	77.8	86	629	7.3	54	6
2001	PHI	16	16	285	493	57.8	3233	6.56	64	25	12	39	273	84.3	82	482	5.9	33	2
2002	PHI	10	10	211	361	58.4	2289	6.34	59	17	6	28	166	86.0	63	460	7.3	40	6
2003	PHI	4	4	71	141	50.4	664	4.71	39	1	5	16	98	51.3	25	174	7.0	25	0
Total		58	52	1003	1780	56.3	10499	5.90	70	72	43	156	1003	77.0	303	2058	6.8	54	14

Data Source: STATS, Inc. Copyright 2002 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited. ESPN.com: HELP | MEDIA KIT | CONTACT US | TOOLS | SITE MAP Copyright ©2003 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Click here for a list of employment opportunities at ESPN.com.

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[Almondjoy]

Oh where in 2002 did you note that he missed 6 games that year.. oh that's right.. on his way to a 3500 yard passing year and the best TD to InT ratio he's ever had. Not to mention the fact that he could of very well had 30 TD's that year.. a good year to say the least for a QB. His rating has consistantly gotten better since he started.. Keep trying rook.

Why do you keep setting yourself up for failure?

[Bommer]

Oh where in 2002 did you note that he missed 6 games that year.. oh that's right.. on his way to a 3500 yard passing year and the best TD to InT ratio he's ever had. Not to mention the fact that he could of very well had 30 TD's that year.. a good year to say the least for a QB. His rating has consistantly gotten better since he started.

Oh so you use arguments of what COULD have been, while ignoring 1999, 2000 & 2001? Yeah he's getting better. Hes currently ranked 30 out of 31 QB's! Once again your shown to be a clueless dullard! Try again, oh and try using FACTS instead instead of your wet dreams of what could have been! Moron!

[Almondjoy]

Dante had the worse year of his career last year.. he started off this year with 0 interceptions. I'm not going to put his 31st ranking out of 5 games into thought. The season is 16 games long and his career is alot longer than 5 short years. You have no ability to see the big picture. I will take a guess and assume your education reflects that.