ESPN commentator suspended

ESPN has handed commentator Rob Parker a 30-day suspension for questioning Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III's "blackness."

The network announced the suspension Thursday, a day after Parker apologized for comments he made during the Dec. 13 episode of ESPN's First Take. Parker, who is black, was discussing Griffin's role as an African American quarterback when he took exception to the rookie's engagement to a white woman and to rumors that he is a Republican.

"Is he a brother or a cornball brother?" Parker asked rhetorically, we presume. Parker also made clear that RGIII was not black enough to suit him.

"He's black, he kind of does the thing," Parker said. "But he's not really down with the cause. He's not one of us. He's kind of black, but he's not really like the guy you really want to hang out with because he's off into something else."

On Wednesday, Parker took it back, tweeting: "I blew it and I'm sincerely sorry. I completely understand how the issue of race in sports is a sensitive one and needs to be handled with great care."

You think?

By the way, Griffin, who has been ailing with a sprained right knee, was listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Eagles at the Linc.

Demoted Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez came through with the sort of cliches associated with lesser franchises, certainly not a Big Apple team.

Given that he has terrible stats and has been replaced by a second-year man who until recently had been the third-string quarterback, Sanchez pretty much knows he won't be back with the Jets next year.

Still, when asked Friday about his future, Sanchez said with a straight face: "I really haven't even thought about it. Honestly, I'm a Jet. That's all I've known."

Then Sanchez followed through with this chestnut when asked about trade rumors:

"I'm focused on this game and the game next week," he said. "We'll assess all that stuff at a later date."

This is how you answer reporters' questions? In Gotham?

No wonder the Jets are considered a circus along the lines of the Bronx Zoo Yankees and Al Davis' Raiders. At least those Yankees won a couple of World Series, and the Raiders took home three Super Bowl trophies.