The first theme that I developed from my content analysis was the media’s positive and negative “back pedaling” associated with white and Black quarterbacks. This is when a white quarterback received criticism; it was surrounded by a positive remark to take attention away from the criticism. For a Black quarterback, the opposite would occur, as when a Black quarterback received positive remarks from the media it was surrounded by criticism. Incidents of negative back pedaling for Black quarterbacks occurred a total of seven times. In comparison, white quarterbacks only received this form of back pedaling once when they were praised. When a white quarterback was criticized by the media, these comments were positively back pedaled from. This form of back pedaling occurred a total of three times for white quarterbacks, while this only occurred for Black quarterbacks one time.
The first example of a negative back pedaling to occur would be Colin Kaepernick. Stephen A. Smith said that “We all know he is justified in his lack of trust in the NFL.” (ESPN 2020) This comment directly supported Kaepernick when it comes to the quarterback’s situation, where he agreed that Kaepernick and other Black quarterbacks have been given unequal opportunities in the NFL. Smith then directly came back with 4 different comments that walked back his support for Kaepernick, such as when he said, “What I would say to him is get in line.” (EPSN 2020) This is in reference to how Kaepernick should join all the other players that have not received a fair chance, and it potentially discredits the idea that his political activism has influenced the lack opportunities that he has received in the past and may receive in the future.
Another example of this occurred with Lamar Jackson. Former player Tom Jackson called the quarterback “the best athlete,” (ESPN 2020) when speaking in terms of the quarterback position in the NFL. This is a great vote of confidence for Jackson, but moments prior the analyst said that he is a “work in progress,” (ESPN 2020) when it comes to his ability to win with his arm talent and brain rather than his raw athleticism. This potentially discredits the praise he gave Jackson, as he pointed out that the quarterback is of elite natural ability but still lacks the brains to put this athleticism to use. This plays into one of my literature themes, where he is spoken about regarding his “Brawn” rather than his “Brain.”
Ben Roethlisberger has been represented in the media with back pedaling implications, but his situation has been on the positive spectrum. Stephen A. Smith was seen on this appearance, where he began his criticism of Roethlisberger when he said, “thank God he is retired.” (ESPN 2022). This was in reference to the fact the Roethlisberger has not been of elite status for a few years now, which has held the Pittsburgh Steelers back. Smith immediately walked his original statement back when he said, “Ben Roethlisberger deserves to be in the hall of fame.” (ESPN 2022) It is not the statement itself that is in question, because what he said based on his on-field career was true, but it is the timing. Smith could not allow his criticism to marinate at all, as he took attention away from the criticism of his present playing career when he pointed out to the viewers Roethlisberger’s past playing career. He did this many times during this segment, as he referenced the quarterback’s accolades on three separate occasions, as well as when he referred to his value to the Steelers organization.
The outliers of this theme were quarterbacks Cam Newton and Kirk Cousins. Newton has seen an account of positive back pedaling. Former player Dominque Foxworth argued that “I think it is hard to argue that he hasn’t underachieved.” (ESPN 2020) as his initial criticism of the former league MVP. Foxworth then positively back pedaled from this statement immediately when he said, “I think they failed him (Newton) in many ways. (ESPN 2020) Foxworth pointed out Newton’s volatile career but also brought to the table that this was also an issue of the Carolina Panthers organization rather than just Newton’s issue. Stephen A. Smith said that Cousins “needs to be credited for his brilliance,” (ESPN 2020) when speaking of Cousins’s ability to get big money contracts. He also negatively back pedaled from his original compliment when he said, “he doesn’t win too many playoff games.” (ESPN 2020). Here it can be seen how Smith first said that Cousins can get teams to pay him big money but potentially discredited the reason he would be able to get a big contract when he pointed out his lack of success. This potentially made it seem like teams are desperate for quarterbacks rather than Kirk being a quarterback worth the money he has been paid, which is of elite status.
Title: Stephen A. Smith
Author: KA Sports Photos
Source:
Link to Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/34462554722/
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/
License: CC-BY
Title: Domonique Foxworth
Author: KA Sports Photos
Source:
Link to Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/3841060202/
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/
License: CC-BY
Title: Tom Jackson 2010
Author: Marianne O’Leary
Source:
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://flickr.com/people/27298961@N00
License: CC-BY
Title: Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson
Author: Jack Kurzenknabe
Source:
Link to Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/painting-with-pixels/51141482062
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/painting-with-pixels/
License: Public Domain
Title: Colin Kaepernick
Author: Mike Morbeck
Source:
Link to Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33494452@N05/11060149136
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikemorbeck/
License: CC-BY
Title: Cam Newton 2021 WFT vs CAR
Author: All-Pro Reels
License: CC-BY
Source:
Link to Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/51737498962/
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/
License: CC-BY
Title: Ben Roethlisberger
Author: Jeffrey Beall
Source:
Link to Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/denverjeffrey/6695733113
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/denverjeffrey/
License: CC-BY
Title: Kirk Cousins (croppedyellow)
Author: All-Pro Reels
Source:
Link to Flickr Page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/48978289821/
Link to author’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joeglo/
License: CC-BY