Jason Whitlock is the Smartest Working Sportswriter

Jason Whitlock is the smartest working sportswriter. This guy just has a solid, intelligent head on his shoulder.

When everyone else in the sports media community is exaggerating (Don Imus) or outright manufacturing controversy (Donovan McNabb) he constantly steps in to be the level-headed voice of reason. Jason Whitlock can write engaging and memorable articles without creating a false brouhaha.

Whitlock wrote an article this week partially defending Donovan McNabb for not knowing the overtime rules. Let's be honest, the outcome of this game was no different than if McNabb had known that the game ends after one overtime. It's not like McNabb squandered the clock on a last-second scoring drive. The defense was not able to get the ball back, Cincinnati missed a field goal, and the Eagles had just enough time for a Hail Mary. If McNabb had scrambled on several plays in a row, or not played with urgency it may have been a different matter.

While we're on the topic of "not knowing the rule book." Let's throw some pressure on Al Michaels and John Madden, for not knowing the illegal forward pass rule during the Eagles game against the Giants. Madden was once an NFL head coach and these guys have been calling football games as long as I have been alive! Neither of them knew that the quarterback's entire body had to be past the line of scrimmage for a penalty? Really? I knew that that was the rule. And I would argue that broadcasters need to know the rules more than players.

Are there any other players in the NFL that have to deal with the scrutiny Donovan McNabb does? Any other players in American sports? I don't think so. T.O. and Joey Porter create the controversy on purpose. Pacman also brings it on himself because he can't help from breaking the law. There really isn't a professional athlete that takes more flak over nothing than Donovan McNabb. And all he does is go out every week, and perform at an elite level at one of the toughest positions in any sport.

Jason Whitlock is like the Donovan McNabb of writers. He does nothing but go out and write intelligent social commentary in his sports articles and somehow seems to find himself in controversy once-in-a-while. (Check out the Playboy article he wrote that editorial director Chris Napolitano retitled "The Black KKK," amongst others.) Keep on doin' what you're doin' Whitlock. You're my favorite writer and I'll stick by you through thick and thin.