ESPN’s flagship daily sports talk program “First Take” has sparked outrage by featuring an all-black panel of commentators who are overwhelmingly backing Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for the NFL MVP award over Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The lack of diversity on the show is not a coincidence, as many believe that ESPN is using racial considerations to sway voters.
Despite Allen’s impressive performance this season, including leading his team to a victory over the top-seeded Detroit Lions, he faces an uphill battle due to his white identity and past use of a racial slur. In contrast, Jackson has been hailed as the “face of black quarterbacks” by Ryan Clark, who argues that Jackson’s evolution in the position is a collective win for black players.
However, critics argue that Allen deserves recognition for his achievements, including having 15 more total touchdowns than Jackson last season and leading his team to a higher QBR. The author of this piece points out that ESPN commentators are either gaslighting or being influenced by racial bias in their opinions on the matter.
The author concludes that accusations of racism against Josh Allen’s supporters will be dismissed, as many NFL voters are reluctant to take on the potential backlash from casting their votes for a white quarterback over a black one. This season, Lamar Jackson is seen as the MVP, but the real question is whom the voters will ultimately choose based on merit or racial considerations.
Source: https://www.outkick.com/analysis/espn-pulling-out-all-race-cards-pressure-voters-give-mvp-lamar-jackson-over-josh-allen