Joe Soriano
O.J. LewisRacism in the NFL Draft
April 22nd 2010 14:23
Hello readers, first off, let me introduce myself. My name is O.J. Lewis, and I’m from California, I love USC and Miami, and my favorite NFL teams are the Ravens, Chargers, 49ers, and the Jets. My favorite player is Ray Lewis, and my favorite coach would have to be either Bill Belichick or Rex Ryan. And as Joe said, I’ll be writing about football, both college and NFL. It’s nice to be here and thank you all for reading my articles, and thank you Joe for giving me the chance to work with you.
Third in the state of California in total rushing with 9,662 career rushing yards in high school. Gatorade California Player of the Year. 1,136 rushing yards averaging 5.4 YDs per carries and 15 rushing TDs as a junior in college. 1,871 rushing yards averaging 5.5YDs per carries and 28 rushing TDs as a senior in college. The closest runner up for the Hiesman Trophy in history to Mark Ingram. Doesn’t that resume seem like that person proved himself already? Well, apparently not.
Well, that's what they're telling Toby Gerhart. It can’t be about him being too slow (a little below average 4.5 in the 40, I mean, it is the offseason and all, you can’t expect him to still be on a super strict diet and training schedule, and he also ran a 4.4 in HS and during football seasons), since if you see him actually play like I did when I was watching the USC game, he’s a very fast player. Maybe not C.J. Spiller or Chris Johnson fast, but fast enough to be a RB at the next level. He leveled LBs such as Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing as a junior, so you know he’s got the strength. He’s 6’1, 235 lbs, so it can’t be his size. It can’t be his intelligence, since, really? Did I even have to mention this? He’s from Stanford! So since it isn’t his speed, strength, size, or intelligence, what can it be? Being injury prone? I mean, going against the likes of Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, and Taylor Mays and such for the last two years and not being injured other than a knee injury, which you really can’t help as a RB when defenders dive at your legs and such.
So what is the thing that makes him lesser than other running backs? He’s white. Even as he was coming out of high school, there were questions of him being able to play at the next level. The receiver of the Gatorade California Player of the Year. He was also recruited by USC, Tailback U, but when he asked about him playing RB there, USC told Gerhart they might give him a chance to try out at that spot, but basically told him they were looking at him as only a LB. Now look at Gerhart compared to USC’s RBs.
This racism, is an unfair, and an ugly thing. White running backs, white receivers, black quarterbacks, they all get negative responses since, we’re all used black RBs, black WRs, white QBs, and such being the norm. Like Troy Smith, the ’06 Hiesman Trophy winner from Ohio State. His career passing stats being 420/670 passes completed, which is 62.7% for 5,720 YDs, 54 TDs, 13 Ints, and 159.72 QB rating, and his rushing stats being 1,197 YDs on 283 attempts, averaging 4.2 YDs per carry for 14 total TDs. He was drafted in the 5th round, being pick no. 174. The only question was about his height at 6 feet. That’s the same height at Drew Brees. A Heisman winner would probably be even considered around 2nd ~ 3rd round at least normally, wouldn’t you think?
So what I’m saying is, Gerhart shouldn’t be overlooked just because of his race. Nobody should. We are all human beings. Just remember, whoever you’re talking about is human before he, or she, is his, or her, own nationality and such.
Third in the state of California in total rushing with 9,662 career rushing yards in high school. Gatorade California Player of the Year. 1,136 rushing yards averaging 5.4 YDs per carries and 15 rushing TDs as a junior in college. 1,871 rushing yards averaging 5.5YDs per carries and 28 rushing TDs as a senior in college. The closest runner up for the Hiesman Trophy in history to Mark Ingram. Doesn’t that resume seem like that person proved himself already? Well, apparently not.
Well, that's what they're telling Toby Gerhart. It can’t be about him being too slow (a little below average 4.5 in the 40, I mean, it is the offseason and all, you can’t expect him to still be on a super strict diet and training schedule, and he also ran a 4.4 in HS and during football seasons), since if you see him actually play like I did when I was watching the USC game, he’s a very fast player. Maybe not C.J. Spiller or Chris Johnson fast, but fast enough to be a RB at the next level. He leveled LBs such as Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing as a junior, so you know he’s got the strength. He’s 6’1, 235 lbs, so it can’t be his size. It can’t be his intelligence, since, really? Did I even have to mention this? He’s from Stanford! So since it isn’t his speed, strength, size, or intelligence, what can it be? Being injury prone? I mean, going against the likes of Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, and Taylor Mays and such for the last two years and not being injured other than a knee injury, which you really can’t help as a RB when defenders dive at your legs and such.
So what is the thing that makes him lesser than other running backs? He’s white. Even as he was coming out of high school, there were questions of him being able to play at the next level. The receiver of the Gatorade California Player of the Year. He was also recruited by USC, Tailback U, but when he asked about him playing RB there, USC told Gerhart they might give him a chance to try out at that spot, but basically told him they were looking at him as only a LB. Now look at Gerhart compared to USC’s RBs.
This racism, is an unfair, and an ugly thing. White running backs, white receivers, black quarterbacks, they all get negative responses since, we’re all used black RBs, black WRs, white QBs, and such being the norm. Like Troy Smith, the ’06 Hiesman Trophy winner from Ohio State. His career passing stats being 420/670 passes completed, which is 62.7% for 5,720 YDs, 54 TDs, 13 Ints, and 159.72 QB rating, and his rushing stats being 1,197 YDs on 283 attempts, averaging 4.2 YDs per carry for 14 total TDs. He was drafted in the 5th round, being pick no. 174. The only question was about his height at 6 feet. That’s the same height at Drew Brees. A Heisman winner would probably be even considered around 2nd ~ 3rd round at least normally, wouldn’t you think?
So what I’m saying is, Gerhart shouldn’t be overlooked just because of his race. Nobody should. We are all human beings. Just remember, whoever you’re talking about is human before he, or she, is his, or her, own nationality and such.
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Comment by Joe Soriano
Pro Sports Wrap
Orble Sport Blog
Already with a great post. Gerhart is a no-brainer in the second round. I love that picture you got. Great opening post. I can't wait for more.
Comment by O.J. Lewis