DEAR FITZ
Which brings us back to the incredible whiteness of Fitz’s pre-Jets career and “six teams”:
0-3: Rams 2005
4-7-1: Bengals 2008
4-4: Bills 2009
4-9: Bills 2010
6-10: Bills 2011
6-10: Bills 2012
3-6: Titans 2013
6-6; Texans 2014
10-6: Jets 2015
No Black QB can ever pull this string of failure off. Or even half of it.
Or even just that Buffalo stretch. Tyrod Taylor just ain’t getting that line of credit.
Dear Fitz, despite your Harvard education, here is what you have been missing:
Every time a front office or coach stopped believing in you, another organization stepped up and did.
That’s your greatest NFL privilege - a distinctly white quarterback privilege.
Your privilege not to be stigmatized league-wide; not to be humiliated mid-game or post-game; or have your career end in 2011; or even 2009.
Your privilege is receiving great patience from coaches Geno’s career would never see - even before Sunday’s injury.
Your privilege, despite a league worst passer rating, is to have a divisive public outburst as you did Sunday, and not be labeled a selfish malcontent – a staple for Black athletes.
Your privilege is having a “human” reaction, and not being punished for it.
Your privilege is making $12 million more dollars in 2016 than a younger Vince Young will ever see. Perhaps you should write him a check.
Your privilege is being treated with more dignity and respect than an all-time great like McNabb.
Your privilege is merely existing in the NFL unlike many never-developed black quarterbacks plying their trade in Canada or Arena football.
Your season last year was remarkable.
But don’t call it a comeback - it was a privilege.
It’s time that you check it.