Looks like Toby’s playing the race card. Toby Gerhart, Standford’s former senior running back, turned NFL prospect, is quoted as saying
“It’s too bad people look at you all weird because of a stereotype”
At the end of the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, a 6’0″ 235 pound running back, who also led the nation in rushing, goes undrafted. Gerhart is playing the race card and I agree with him. Yes, if he had the exact same college career, with black skin and some locs hanging from underneath his helmet, he’d have taken pictures with Roger Goodell holding a jersey as a first round selection. It’s true, White ball carriers, at any position in football have a stereotype as being subpar to their Black counter parts. Toby’s race alone probably did keep him out of the first round, but first, let’s put things in perspective. We’re talking about instead of making 1.5 million a year as a late first rounder, he’ll be making, let’s say 850K. Bummer. I’m not hatin but let’s not confuse this with a Mexican-American with a business degree who can only get work driving a big-ass lawn mower. I think either way, Toby’s going to be just fine.
I digress. Like I said, I wholeheartedly agree his race is a factor in his current unemployment (which won’t last long). No California high school football player can say they’ve rushed for more yards than Gerhart. He’s the all-tiime leader. That’s a large group of running backs including current and formers NFL greats Reggie Bush, Terrell Davis and “The Juice”.
In 2009, he led the nation (Division 1A) in rushing with 1,871 yards. He won both the Doak Walker Award and Jim Brown Trophy which acknowledges the top college running back. He finished second only to Mark Ingram for the Heisman, falling short by only 28 votes. Some scouts have said his speed (4.50) is the problem. Ryan Mathews, who’s also a “larger back” and clocked at about the same forty time (4.45), now has a contract with the Chargers. I understand that there are other tangibles factoring in such as his leaping ability, bench press etc. but his stats come against formidable Pac-10 opponents, including an 178 yard 3TD game against USC.
Some team will eventually pick him up and slap the “work horse” or “role player” tag on him. On the other hand, it’s been almost 25 years since a white running back (Craig James) has cracked a 1,000 yard rushing season in the league. Justified? In terms of political correctness, no. In terms of winning games, yes.
I empathize with the White running backs and Black punters of the world. Welcome….somewhat, to OUR world.
