The San Francisco 49ers have suspended radio analyst Tim Ryan for 1 game for saying Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson is hard to stop because his dark skin is the same color as the football.
Ryan made the incendiary remark on Monday during a show on the 49ers’ flagship radio station KNBR, according to CBS News.
Ryan was describing Jackson’s fake handoffs that usually result in the potential MVP keeping the ball and running it in for a touchdown. Jackson led the Ravens to a 20-17 win over the 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, Dec. 1.
“He’s really good at that fake, Lamar Jackson,” Ryan said on the radio show Monday.
“But when you consider his dark skin color with a dark football with a dark uniform, you could not see that thing. I mean you literally could not see when he was in and out of the mesh point.”
Jackson’s exploits on the field this season drew comparisons to another famed dual-threat quarterback, former Atlanta Falcons superstar Mike Vick.
While many are happy that a Black quarterback is the frontrunner for the NFL league MVP, others are bitter and hateful.
Many Twitter users defended Ryan, saying they didn’t see anything wrong with what he said.
One Twitter user wrote:
“He points out that it’s difficult to see someone with dark skin holding a dark football and all black. There is nothing racist about this. It’s just a fact that the contrast with the background made him difficult to see.”
Another user tweeted, “He’s right. I can barely see the football!”
And a third Twitter user wrote: “One game suspension means they know he’s right, but they have to pretend for the idiots”.
Some Twitter users suggested making the football a lighter color.
49ers Announcer Suspended 1 Game For Saying Lamar Jackson's "Dark Skin Color" Made Him Hard To Stop
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 5, 2019
He’s not wrong in what he’s saying. For those of you that think it’s “racist” I’m sure you never played the game so you don’t understand what he’s saying
— Common Cents (@CommonCents2020) December 5, 2019
How’s that racist? He had a good point. Only racist if you think dark skin=bad
— max (@the_max_fm) December 5, 2019
He points out that it’s difficult to see someone with dark skin holding a dark football and all black.
There is nothing racist about this. It’s just a fact that the contrast with the background made him difficult to see. Pretty benign but okay.
— the (@internetusr) December 5, 2019
He’s right. I can barely see the football!
— Dusty Miller (@DustyMiller03) December 5, 2019
I mean it isn’t the smartest thing to say but it’s not racist or might not even be incorrect if playing at night but it’s still a dumb thing to say in 2019 I think a 1 game suspension is fair to remind him that there are a lot of over sensitive millennials out there.
— Pudgy Doofus (@PudgyDoofus) December 5, 2019
One game suspension means they know he's right, but they have to pretend for the idiots
— totally good guy (@DeweyGud) December 5, 2019
To the People saying “he’s not wrong tho”,
What you’re implying is if Lamar Jackson was white, he’d be less productive than RL black Lamar
Which isn’t exactly NOT racist
So be careful and choose wisely upon which hill you want to fight on about this whole thing
— Big Time Temüjin ???? (@ShipitRideout) December 5, 2019
He's basically saying Lamar should smile when he runs. Seriously, who focuses on the small amount of skin showing and not the uniform? Guy's a moron
— greg whitener el (@CgaMoor) December 5, 2019
