Byron Leftwich: Why Isn’t He Mobile?

JACKSONVILLE, FL--Byron Leftwich is one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the NFL. His team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, is expected to contend for the AFC Central title this season, thanks in large part to Leftwich’s strong, accurate throwing arm. Head coach Jack Del Rio, however, is concerned about his lack of speed and mobility, especially since Leftwich is African-American.

“When I first laid eyes on Byron, I thought ‘Now there’s a guy who can give us some much needed mobility in the pocket, as well as give the opposing defense something else to think about,” said Del Rio. “I’ve been dying to coach a black quarterback for years because I’m tired of all these white guys that stand there in the pocket like a statue. Well, Byron might as well be a white guy. The guy can’t run for shit.”

Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver is also bewildered by Leftwich’s decided lack of running skills or athleticism. He even went so far as to hint that the team did not get the quarterback it was hoping for in the 2003 draft.

“We like Byron’s throwing arm and his decision making skills, but we’re extremely disappointed with his running ability,” said Weaver. “If we wanted some stoic, old-fashioned pocket passer, we would’ve drafted a white kid. We wanted a quarterback who could run and throw, so we drafted Byron. Boy, were we fooled. I guess that’s why they say ‘buyer beware.’ One thing’s for sure, I’m never drafting black guy again--for any position.”

Leftwich’s lack of running ability has been the subject of discussion since he joined the league two years ago. Countless analysts have weighed in on the strangely flat footed, unathletic quarterback.

“He certainly looks the part,” said analyst Steve Young on NFL Primetime. “When they drafted that guy, I thought they were getting the next Michael Vick, or at least the next Donovan McNabb. But it turns out they got the next goddamn Drew Bledsoe. I think Byron should be ashamed of himself for misleading the team like that.”

Even Jaguar fans have expressed disappointment over their new quarterback’s failure to run for touchdowns and dazzle defenses with his versatility. During a preseason game in Pittsburgh, fans booed Leftwich after he failed to escape a blitzing defender. The boos grew louder when Leftwich passed up an opportunity to run for a first down in order to complete a short pass to his tight end. Clearly, the fans’expectations have not been met thus far.

“I thought I was seeing things when Byron got sacked by those Pittsburgh guys last week,” said Trevor Dullea, Jags season ticket holder who attended the Pittsburgh game. “After the shock wore off, my friends and I convinced ourselves that he got sacked on purpose just to set up the defense for a thrilling, 50-yard touchdown run or something. Well, in the third quarter, Leftwich had a chance to take off on one of his trademark sprints down the field, but he opted for a quick pass to his tight end. That was when I realized something was wrong. If this guy can’t run, he has no business being black.”

Leftwich’s agent, Karl Poston, argues that he never told any team that his client could run with the ball. According to him, Leftwich is performing “as advertised.”

“My client was known in college as a pocket passer,” said Poston. “In fact, he was one of the best pocket passers in the game. That’s why he was such a highly touted prospect. I know a lot of people just figured he was white after looking at his numbers, but that’s just symptomatic of the climate of racial color-coding that has plagued this sport for decades. But that’s OK, just when a time-worn racial stereotype seems engraved in stone, some innovator always comes along and shatters it. Take me, for instance. A lot of people probably thought that white guys had the market cornered on being greedy, shameless, unscrupulous, sports agents, but I’ve certainly abolished that myth.”

Throughout all the controversy, Leftwich has maintained a professional attitude. The second year player has not let the criticisms affect his performance or his confidence. Still, he admitted to being a little surprised by all the controversy.

“One of the hardest things to deal with as a high draft pick is the fans’ expectations,” said Leftwich. “But I know that’s just par for the course. I feel that my lack of mobility is offset by my accurate throwing arm, good instincts, and ability to read the defense. I guess it’s natural for people to expect me to be able to run, especially given my physical appearance.”

“But all this controversy is a little disconcerting,” he continued. “I don’t mind the TV analysts talking about it, but now even my family and friends are getting in on the act. My own mother actually called me an 'Uncle Tom' the other day, which is especially disturbing since it’s the first time she’s contacted me in ten years.”