Does Race Matter for a QB?
Did the Philadelphia Eagles exploit race in the NFL to secure their quarterback talent? After the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, a certain sports economist questioned whether race played a role in their decision. In Stumbling on Wins, Dave illustrated that race matters in the NFL. NFL teams have repeatedly valued black quarterbacks less than white quarterbacks.
In an odd twist, it seems the Eagles exploited the same behavior they previously exhibited to stock talent at the quarterback position. A year after trading McNabb, the Eagles traded his white replacement, Kevin Kolb, to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick and then signed Vince Young to be Michael Vick’s backup.
What happened next was predictable.
The Cardinals signed Kolb to a new contract reportedly worth $63 million despite the fact he ranked 42nd out of 48 quarterbacks in Wins Produced per 100 plays (WP100), 34th in QB rating and only started seven games in his NFL career. The Eagles signed Young to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $5.5 million despite the fact he ranked 14th in WP100, 5th in QB rating, started 47 games in his NFL career and made two pro bowl appearances. For the complete 2010 quarterback rankings by wins produced, see this post.
Vick ranked 5th in WP100 last season and missed four games. The Eagles appear to have two top quarterbacks for the 2011 season with Young as his backup. Before labeling the Eagles quarterbacks a dream team, however, one of the points illustrated in The Wages of Wins should be remembered: NFL quarterbacks tend to be inconsistent from one season to the next. Vick and Young may not repeat their high level of performance in 2011.
If Vick and Young do maintain a high level of performance in 2011, then the Eagles just may stumble onto some wins by exploiting the NFL’s views on black and white quarterbacks. How ironic would that be for the City of Brotherly Love?
Wages of Wins Journal 
anthony franco (@francoburbank)
August 6, 2011
By signing Vince Young the Eagle also prevent a good quarterback in Young from playing for someone else (possibly even a division rival). While this effect may be small, it does come cheap, and has upside in case of emergency. At some point this season there will be a few of teams with shaky quarterback situations that will wish they had an option as viable as Vince Young (Seattle, Washington, and Miami are already in the running).
mosiplatt
August 6, 2011
@francoburbank:
Good point. Of course, most teams either didn’t consider Young a viable option in the first place or Young didn’t consider them a viable option. Do you think he will stay with the Eagles for more than one season?
anthony franco (@francoburbank)
August 6, 2011
I think he is in the perfect position to shine if given the opportunity. Vick gets hurt for a couple games, and as long as Vince is prepared he should be successful (especially with some of the skill talent that Philly has). If Vick is out for just a gem or two he may not pique the interest of two many teams, but if Vick is out for 4-8 games and Vince does well he will be gone. My guess is that if Vince takes this opportunity seriously all through the preseason the Eagles will try to renegotiate for another year with him before he ever sets foot on the field during a game, that way he becomes a valuable trade piece next off season.
mosiplatt
August 6, 2011
@francoburbank:
Interesting. Do you think the Eagles will have wildcat packages featuring Vick, Young AND Ronnie Brown? I might be willing to pay to see that live…
anthony franco (@francoburbank)
August 7, 2011
You know that would be fun to watch, if you are a creative offensive coordinator the Eagles talent makes you think of all kinds of “backyard” possibilities with the ability to run them with world class athletes. They will probably be much more boring than that but even if its just one set play a game and a few busted plays they will represent the franchise of Randall Cunningham well!