The Black quarterback is now the NFL’s leading man. But at what cost?

Black signal callers are no longer marginalized. But it also means that, to some extent, they have been forced to become company men

Two years ago, under a cloudless sky in north central Louisiana, Doug Williams and Michael Vick met on the football field at Grambling University's Eddie G Robinson Memorial Stadium to reflect on the NFL trail they helped blaze. In 1988 Williams led Washington past Denver in Super Bowl XXII, breaking fresh ground: he was the first Black quarterback to start in a Super Bowl and finished the game as MVP. In 2001 Vick was the top pick in the NFL draft. All were landmark firsts for Black quarterbacks - and they didn't stop there.

Look around this league now," Williams told Vick in his stubborn Louisiana drawl. I could be wrong, but in the next five to seven years? Half of the quarterbacks in this league gon' be Black." In his day Williams was famous for his deep shots - but he could well wind up three years long of this mark.