This isn’t a controversial statement.
It is true statement not just of athletes, but black people in general. It will make some white people uncomfortable, but that doesn’t make what he said any less true.
It should be noted that Taylor clearly states he holds himself to the highest standard and knows he can improve, but the excuses that are made for the poor to average play of white quarterbacks are never afforded to black ones.
Read his comments with an open mind via Kimberly Martin of The Buffalo News.
“It’s always going to be twice as bad just because of who I am – an African-American quarterback,” Taylor says, echoing a familiar refrain among people of color, regardless of professional status. “Look across the league, man. We’re held to a certain standard. We almost have to be perfect.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s just an African-American quarterback thing. It’s an African-American athlete thing – or just an African-American thing,” he says, “And that’s not anything I just found out. It’s been that way since I was a kid.”
Taylor discussed the notions that most African-American passers are labeled as ‘mobile’ while noting that white quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr – who are both athletic, get labeled as pocket passers.
“They claim that we’re not that accurate from the pocket. I’m not sure why,” Taylor said. “Even though they’re ‘mobile’ guys, they don’t necessarily take on the same criticism as others. It probably is unfair.”
Go take a quick look at the leaders in QB rushing yards over the past few years, a lot of those QBs are white. No lies have been told by Taylor.