As a rookie, even quintessential drop-back passer Troy Aikman was a threat to run the ball, averaging 7.9 yards a carry and gaining more than 300 yards. The answer to the question of whether or not Black quarterbacks are changing the game is an emphatic yes. What hasn't been mentioned in this article and needs to be said, however, is that every time Black athletes have been integrated into a sport, that sport has gotten significantly more competitive. The example Ashe used in his series concerned the absolute dominance of the NL over the AL in the MLB All-Star game in the 60's and 70's. Now that Black quarterbacks are getting a reasonable chance to compete for jobs, no matter what their particular skill set, we can expect to see the level of play at this position rise as well.
Competition works for everybody.
Justin Driver is assistant literary editor at the New Republic. All rights reserved.