Are the Eagles Taking Advantage of a Market Inefficiency on Race and Quarterbacks?

I talked about race and the NFL Quarterback last year by looking at whether African-American quarterbacks were benched at a higher rate in bad performances (not statistically significant difference), and by comparing the numbers over the last four seasons across the league. It may be a league using the passer rating problem, as the passer rating was equal for African-American and non-African-American quarterbacks, while other measures, such as ANYA show the African-American quarterbacks have outperformed other quarterbacks as a group over the last four years.

In the Eagles’ case, though, I would be hesitant to attribute this to some broad Eagles’ strategy based on race, or draw the Kevin Kolb versus Vince Young decision on racial grounds. Both Michael Vick and Vince Young had specific issues that affected their market when the Eagles signed them. Michael Vick was out of the league after serving time in federal prison. Vince Young had some notable public issues, from his meltdown at the start of the 2008 season, to his blowup with coach Jeff Fisher last year after an injury. Vince Young was not getting an opportunity to start because of the freshness of how it ended in Tennessee.

I suppose if you want to see a racial component to how Vince Young was available and they were able to get the deal they got for Kolb, you will see what you are looking for, but no economic study will prove it in this particular case. Personally, I think the Eagles are taking advantage of a market inefficiency, but it’s taking chances on low risk (at least in terms of player cost) upside players who have been cast aside by other organizations when their perceived value is at the lowest. Vince Young is a decent gamble as many quarterbacks who flashed potential, irregardless of race, have re-invented themselves when given a second chance with a new organization.

[photo via Getty]