Bill Polian Contradicts Himself in Assessing Lamar Jackson

Will somebody please stop asking Bill Polian questions about black quarterbacks? Pretty please?

ProFootballTalk on Twitter

Arguing that Lamar Jackson should move from QB to WR was only the second dumbest thing Bill Polian said on Monday https://t.co/kFDQYsHiCy

For some reason that I cant readily and confidently put my finger on, Polian never has anything good to say about black quarterbacks, but he has cosigned some pretty average to flat out terrible white quarterbacks. 

Trill Bro Dude on Twitter

Bill Polian just said that 6’3 Lamar Jackson is too short to play QB and should change his position to WR. Let’s see some of his other takes!

Heres his latest evaluation of 2017 Heisman Trophy winner QB Lamar Jackson of Louisville.  

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Polian appeared on ESPN, saying this about Jackson;

“Short and a little bit slight,” Polian said. “Clearly, clearly not the thrower that the other guys are. The accuracy isn’t there.”

Polian, who served as vice chairman of the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2011, deserves all the accolades and respect that can be afforded an individual of his stature regarding football and player assessment. Its not a misnomer to say he has forgotten more about football and talent evaluation than Ill ever know.  But thats why his statements seems senseless. This is the same Bill Polian who said QB Johnny Manziel, at 5-11, should have gone as high as No. 4 in the the 2014 NFL draft.

Polian went as far as to say on ESPN’s Outside The Lines, that Jackson would make a better wide receiver than QB, which is some real oldschool and outdated and disrespectful thinking.  

He also said the 6-foot-3 Jackson was too short for the NFL, then followed that up by saying Jackson’s accuracy was bad. Skills assassination at its best. Or perhaps its with age and stress that Polian has forgotten that Jacksons 59.1 completion percentage was higher than that of Wyoming QB Josh Allen, whos projected to go as high as fifth.

I dont know whats going on in his head, nor will I claim his intentions are purposely nefarious. Maybe the game has passed him by. However, someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and show him how his logic appears to shift against a black or athletic QB while that same line of thinking seems to evaporate when applied to a traditional, white quarterback. I am in no way saying Bill Polian is a racist or harbors prejudicial thoughts toward black quarterbacks. However, one could easily misconstrue that from his own words.

Back to top