NFL

NAACP stands up for McNabb

By wire services
Published December 16, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - The NAACP president criticized the head of its Philadelphia branch Thursday for racially charged comments made about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Bruce Gordon, who heads the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called McNabb "a great quarterback, an excellent role model and a class act." He said he would personally apologize to McNabb on behalf of the NAACP for remarks made by chapter president J. Whyatt Mondesire.

"The NAACP has many civil rights issues that require our attention," Gordon said. "Criticizing Donovan McNabb is not one of them."

Mondesire, who publishes the Philadelphia Sunday Sun, criticized McNabb's proclivity for passing in a Dec. 4 column. He accused McNabb of playing "the race card" by changing his approach to the game. "We made it clear to all the media that we were not speaking for the NAACP," Mondesire said, "only for the Sun."

McNabb could not be reached for comment, but said last weekend that "I always thought the NAACP supported African Americans and didn't talk bad about them."

[Last modified December 16, 2005, 00:55:10]