Albany,n.y. Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070204/1024548.asp As for the quarterback position itself, not until 1978 when Tampa Bay drafted Doug Williams of Grambling in the first round was the game's most important position opened to blacks. Like any young quarterback, Williams struggled. It was at the time Iranian radicals captured the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the joke around Tampa was "They ought to send Williams to Iran; he's the only one who could overthrow the Ayatollah." Williams' unhappy time with Tampa Bay ended with his release and for three seasons he played no football. Washington's patient Joe Gibbs, seeking a reliable backup, brought him back into the NFL. Three years later in Super Bowl XXII against Denver and John Elway, Williams had the greatest 15-minute stretch, the second quarter, in Super Bowl annals. He threw four touchdown passes, including bombs of 80 and 50 yards, in a 42-10 rout. Felser is so far off the mark, I don't know where to begin but... 1)Williams may have struggled early, but by his 2nd year he had the Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFC championship game and Tampa went from laughingstock to playoff contender during his 5 seasons in Tampa Bay. In fact, Williams' last year, 1982, they went 5-4 and without Williams in 1983 fell to 2-14. 2) Williams was not released, he was a free agent & when he felt disrespected by Tampa's offers, signed with the USFL in August 1983. Therefore he missed the 1983 season, just like Jim Kelly did. In addition, not only wasn't he released, but in August 1986 he re-signed with Tampa & was traded for a 1987 5th. 3)Larry, "for three seasons he played no football", get real-he played 1984 & 1985 for the USFL and while he didn't see action in 1986 except for one attempt with the Redskins, he only missed 1 year-1983-due to the spring USFL seasons. 4)"Three yeats later..." Again a mistake. Williams was brought back to the NFL by Gibbs in August 1986 (right after the USFL gave up its hold on their players) and 17 months later had the great Super Bowl. I'm usually one of Felser's biggest supporters around here, but I don't think it's too much to ask that he get his facts straight when he has only one column to prepare each week (and sometimes he takes weeks off).
Dr. Fong Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 He was by no means the first either. http://www.blackathlete.net/artman/publish...cle_01018.shtml
Rubes Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 How could he forget James Harris? After he was released by the Bills, he led the Rams into the playoffs.
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