You guys want to read a really dumb article in The Observer?

[IrishLax]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Dan_O_Boyle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dan_O_Boyle</a> says Tyrod Taylor's benching was not related to his performance on the field, but actually had racist undertones in today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SportsAuthority?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SportsAuthority</a><a href="https://t.co/krP26SOpEo">https://t.co/krP26SOpEo</a></p>— Observer Sports (@ObserverSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/ObserverSports/status/935538794014523392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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So while most logical people believe Tyrod Taylor was benched because he's a below average QB leading the #30 passing offense and the coaches wanted to see if their rookie could play... the actual answer is that Sean McDermott is an evil racist. Good one, Notre Dame.

 

[notredomer23]

What a freezing cold take. That fraction of college kids that blame everything on racism or the patriarchy get worse and worse.

 

[IrishLion]

I don't know, man... Peterman was so terrible that I can't help but wonder what exactly the coaches were looking at in practice that made them think he might be worth a trial over Taylor in the middle of a season.

Part of me was like, "some old white dude still doesn't think a smaller black guy can be a franchise QB worth building around, so they decided to try the prototypical white guy at QB to see what would happen."

 

[gkIrish]

Whoever wrote that article wasn't the first person to have that opinion but I'm embarrassed it was in the Observer.

 

[phgreek]

I don't know, man... Peterman was so terrible that I can't help but wonder what exactly the coaches were looking at in practice that made them think he might be worth a trial over Taylor in the middle of a season.

Part of me was like, "some old white dude still doesn't think a smaller black guy can be a franchise QB worth building around, so they decided to try the prototypical white guy at QB to see what would happen."

I'd have to see more than that to have racism enter my thoughts...sometimes you play a guy to get his value up to trade him...sometimes you play a guy because he is expendable...sometimes you play a guy because you just need to break stagnation...i mean there are a million reasons you make a change, and sometimes the guy who looks like he is being screwed over is actually the beneficiary...who knows. Lacking any other context, racism is a tough sell.

 

[IrishLion]

I'd have to see more than that to have racism enter my thoughts...sometimes you play a guy to get his value up to trade him...sometimes you play a guy because he is expendable...sometimes you play a guy because you just need to break stagnation...i mean there are a million reasons you make a change, and sometimes the guy who looks like he is being screwed over is actually the beneficiary...who knows. Lacking any other context, racism is a tough sell.

I'm not saying I think it was overt racism. It just wouldn't surprise me if the idea of "small black guys aren't long-term answers at QB" is still prevalent among GMs/owners, and that it played some roll, even if very VERY small, in getting Peterman a shot that he clearly didn't deserve.

 

[IrishLax]

I'd have to see more than that to have racism enter my thoughts...sometimes you play a guy to get his value up to trade him...sometimes you play a guy because he is expendable...sometimes you play a guy because you just need to break stagnation...i mean there are a million reasons you make a change, and sometimes the guy who looks like he is being screwed over is actually the beneficiary...who knows. Lacking any other context, racism is a tough sell.

Right, the whole thing is that the Bills' passing offense has been one of the worst in the league and Peterman is a rookie. What no one is talking about is that the Bills had gotten SMOKED the week before by the saints and Taylor was 9/18 for 56 (!!!) yards and a pick... Peterman came in during relief for that game was 70% for 79 yards and a TD and a QBR of 95.2... so the coaches saw that + Tyrod's struggles and said "hey, let's give him a shot."

It's so simple and obviously not "racist"... it's absurd that ND would let race baiting this dumb go to print.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm not saying I think it was overt racism. It just wouldn't surprise me if the idea of "small black guys aren't long-term answers at QB" is still prevalent among GMs/owners, and that it played some roll, even if very VERY small, in getting Peterman a shot that he clearly didn't deserve.

It's hypothetically possible that it was a secondary driver in the background of all this.

The primary drivers were:
1) Tyrod is a average-to-below-average QB that the Bills have been convinced for awhile isn't "the answer" and capable of winning big.
2) The week before Tyrod sucked horribly and then Peterman came in and did really well.

None of the primary drivers were "he's black"... anyone suggesting such is a troll or an idiot.

 

[Meatloaf]

Garbage like this that conflates all white people with being racists is why Trump won.

 

[NDohio]

From the writer's bio:

He believes Lonzo Ball is the greatest basketball player of all time.

Enough said...

 

[ACamp1900]

It's hypothetically possible that it was a secondary driver in the background of all this.

The primary drivers were:
1) Tyrod is a average-to-below-average QB that the Bills have been convinced for awhile isn't "the answer" and capable of winning big.
2) The week before Tyrod sucked horribly and then Peterman came in and did really well.

None of the primary drivers were "he's black"... anyone suggesting such is a troll or an idiot.

Remember when Cam Newton and Russell Wilson were benched for some white dude backup?? That totally happened.

 

[irish4ever]

Garbage like this that conflates all white people with being racists is why Trump won.

Possibly that and plus the fact he was running against a moronic, self-centered biatch!

 

[gkIrish]

From the writer's bio:



Enough said...

He's a wannabe Ringer subscriber who thinks people like "The 6." His shit probably works at Cal Berkeley but Notre Dame kids hate it.

 

[Irish#1]

There is always someone wanting to stir the pot.

 

[CHIDomer9]

While I don't agree with some of the leaps taken at the end, there are a few things to point out:

1) This is not an article. It is a column. A very big difference. A column comes with the writer's concluded opinion based on the writer's chosen argument and the facts that he/she chooses to present.
2) O'Boyle doesn't jump to race right away. He gets to it after 19 paragraphs of dismantling the bona fides of other potential arguments for Taylor's benching. Not sure what it looked like in print, but the headline writer for the online version does a disservice to the writer and the reader here. It is nearly impossible to read the column with a fresh, open mind after taking in the headline.

The points that I do take issue with in the column:
1) "No disrespect to the former Pitt quarterback" The fact that he is from Pitt is not significant, just write his name again. And why "no disrespect?" If we are judging him based on his play in the game in which he took over for Taylor, he's not due respect. This is excusable because O'Boyle is not a professional writer, but we see this too often from small hometown papers and other writers afraid to offend. You're at your keyboard and you've been given the space to express yourself -- don't waste ink on kissing the ass of someone you've never met.
2) "In 2017, surely racism isn’t still affecting personnel decisions this blatantly?" O'Boyle mentions Kaepernick in the next paragraph -- no need to telegraph for the reader.

And for those that are disappointed that "ND would let race baiting this dumb go to print," get over it. The Observer is editorially independent from the Notre Dame. And like all student newspapers, The Observer is a training ground. This column isn't perfect, not even good. But it can be "not good" based on other factors than because you disagree with the writer's opinion.

 

[Wild Bill]

I'm not saying I think it was overt racism. It just wouldn't surprise me if the idea of "small black guys aren't long-term answers at QB" is still prevalent among GMs/owners, and that it played some roll, even if very VERY small, in getting Peterman a shot that he clearly didn't deserve.

I think that's probably the true but it cuts across racial lines. It's difficult to keep smaller stature QBs healthy when they're taking hits from NFL defenders, and that holds true whether we're talking about a pocket passer like Sam Bradford or a QB who can use his legs like RGIII.

The question for most GMs is whether the value of a scrambling QB outweighs the increased risk of injury. If, for instance, a QB like Lamar Jackson could consistently impact a game with his legs (basically a game changer) in the NFL similar to what he does in college, then yes, it's probably worth the risk. That's not the case. Even the best running QBs are neutralized by the size, speed, and strength of NFL defenders so the question they must ask themselves is whether the high risk of injury to a smaller stature scrambling QB is worth taking in exchange for a QB that can move the chains with his legs. I think the answer is no.

In college, give me a guy that can move chains and break a defense with a long run. In the NFL, give me a guy who stands tall in the pocket, avoids contact with quick short movement and guns the ball.

 

[GowerND11]

I think one of the biggest problems for Taylor all season is they have no receiving corps. His best targets are Charles Clay and LeSean McCoy. I see Taylor as a decent QB who can manage a game, and can be made better by his WRs. Getting Kelvin Benjamin would actually be beneficial for him over an offseason and everything, but I wonder if Taylor will even be around next year.

 

[IrishLax]

While I don't agree with some of the leaps taken at the end, there are a few things to point out:

1) This is not an article. It is a column. A very big difference. A column comes with the writer's concluded opinion based on the writer's chosen argument and the facts that he/she chooses to present.
2) O'Boyle doesn't jump to race right away. He gets to it after 19 paragraphs of dismantling the bona fides of other potential arguments for Taylor's benching. Not sure what it looked like in print, but the headline writer for the online version does a disservice to the writer and the reader here. It is nearly impossible to read the column with a fresh, open mind after taking in the headline.

Except he doesn't do that... he has some half-cocked, intellectually dishonest "hot takes" about Taylor being a good QB while ignoring that the Bills passing offense is terrible, he's a below average passer by individual members, and that in the game immediately preceding the one where he got benched Taylor played awful and was replaced by Peterman who played great in limited action.

The points that I do take issue with in the column:
1) "No disrespect to the former Pitt quarterback" The fact that he is from Pitt is not significant, just write his name again. And why "no disrespect?" If we are judging him based on his play in the game in which he took over for Taylor, he's not due respect. This is excusable because O'Boyle is not a professional writer, but we see this too often from small hometown papers and other writers afraid to offend. You're at your keyboard and you've been given the space to express yourself -- don't waste ink on kissing the ass of someone you've never met.
2) "In 2017, surely racism isn’t still affecting personnel decisions this blatantly?" O'Boyle mentions Kaepernick in the next paragraph -- no need to telegraph for the reader.

So you have no qualms with the utterly terrible research, logic, and conclusions of the writer but are going to grip on some writing style choices? lol.

And for those that are disappointed that "ND would let race baiting this dumb go to print," get over it. The Observer is editorially independent from the Notre Dame. And like all student newspapers, The Observer is a training ground. This column isn't perfect, not even good. But it can be "not good" based on other factors than because you disagree with the writer's opinion.

Or it's bad specifically because the writer's opinion is terrible and horribly supported.

 

[Rack Em]

Except he doesn't do that... he has some half-cocked, intellectually dishonest "hot takes" about Taylor being a good QB while ignoring that the Bills passing offense is terrible, he's a below average passer by individual members, and that in the game immediately preceding the one where he got benched Taylor played awful and was replaced by Peterman who played great in limited action.

There's no need to bring up ACamp's small endowment. That's uncalled for.

 

[ACamp1900]

There's no need to bring up ACamp's small endowment. That's uncalled for.

Dude for the 100th time I had just gone swimming in a cold pool for 30 minutes... it happens...

 

[Rack Em]

Dude for the 100th time I had just gone swimming in a cold pool for 30 minutes... it happens...

That's not what your wife told me

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Dude for the 100th time I had just gone swimming in a cold pool for 30 minutes... it happens...

 

[BobbyMac]

Football to racism to shrinkage. A perfectly understandable progression for a white male message board. Next comes porn in 3-2-1

 

[ACamp1900]

Football to racism to shrinkage. A perfectly understandable progression for a white male message board. Next comes porn in 3-2-1

I'm Scottish, don't go throwing me in with you oppressive fucks....

 

[notredomer23]

Football to racism to shrinkage. A perfectly understandable progression for a white male message board. Next comes porn in 3-2-1

Wrong.

PIIHB

 

[RDU Irish]

Kid named Danny O'Boyle calling out racism? Stick to potato famines, ginger.

 

[BobbyMac]

I'm Scottish, don't go throwing me in with you oppressive fucks....

Don't make me break out a Tropic Thunder gif on your pale-pasty carcass, Viking spawn.

 

[ACamp1900]

Kid named Danny O'Boyle calling out racism? Stick to potato famines, ginger.

I laughed...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Don't make me break out a Tropic Thunder gif on your pale-pasty carcass, Viking spawn.

Allow me:

 

[DONTH8]

If Kelly benches Wimbush for Book there may be a riot...