Michael Sam could be the first openly gay NFL player

[KiltedFool]

Maybe I'm delusional but I think if anything this makes it more likely that the Pats draft him.  They seem to have been really focussed lately on picking up guys with mental toughness-Tavon Wilson, Cole and Ebner all lost close family members, Thompkins overcame all kinds of adversity (some self-infliced)--and, at least to me, it would take a hell of a lot of guts and mental fortitude to come out to a SEC football team.  Plus it's a reasonably open minded region and it would be pretty surprising if BB and Kraft weren't as welcoming as any senior executives would be in a company in the Boston area.
 
The biggest question is where you'd fit him in.  He's a little big (and maybe slow) for a special teams demon, a little small for DE, and while he's a nice size to convert to a 3-4 ILB we're not running that any more.

 
Dunno, one of my favorite players broke in as a long time special teams guy at 6'5" 285 as his eventual playing weight.  7th rounder, classic 4-3 transition to 3-4, though he stayed at end.  Michael Sam is smaller and faster, a lot about special teams is willingness and enthusiasm.  Getting in on special teams and a limited number of sub packages could be the door cracked open for him to nail down a roster spot.

 

[Shelterdog]

 
Dunno, one of my favorite players broke in as a long time special teams guy at 6'5" 285 as his eventual playing weight.  7th rounder, classic 4-3 transition to 3-4, though he stayed at end.  Michael Sam is smaller and faster, a lot about special teams is willingness and enthusiasm.  Getting in on special teams and a limited number of sub packages could be the door cracked open for him to nail down a roster spot.

 
Who is that?
 
Anyhow, it's a little hard to chug up and down the field at 6'1" 260 (the core special teams guys tend to be a little smaller, like an Alexander or Fletcher or Izzo)  but it's certainly not unprecedented, and he will likely start there.

 

[KiltedFool]

Brett Keisel. He did bulk up some over time, but was never small. While there are a lot of smaller faster guys, especially among the gunners and "aces", I've seen a lot of the greener linebackers and such on the teams too.  Rookie linebackers (for example) breaking in behind an established veteran won't be getting the defensive snaps, their best way to separate themselves is special teams.  Sorry for the mild hijack but we offer comments based on our experience, and I don't think there's any reason Sam couldn't be strong on teams.

 

[wiffleballhero]

There is a certain amount of irony in Tebow being the analogy for Sam, given Tebow's retrograde (and unabashedly homophobic) political associations.

 

[Van Everyman]

So is Goodell going to go on the record and condemn the bullshit various executives are spewing? The silence is deafening here – and it seems exactly like the kind of thing as the leader of an organization you'd want to come out in strong support of publicly, even if the behind-the-scenes reality is much more complicated. Hell, you could even say that it's going to be complicated so long as you also make clear going to happen.

Time for The Sheriff to step up.

 

[JimD]

He has the guts to make this public, yet the NFL types downplaying his chances hide behind anonymous source privileges. It's one of those times I wish the Peter Kings of this world would get opinions on the record
 
King actually addresses this, and I admit he does have a good point about why he went this route:
 

 
Or, King could have used his prominent media presence to take a stand and call out these assholes by highlighting their unwillingness to go on the record.

 

[EvilEmpire]

Why would King do that with sources he'd like to use again? I get that they are being cowardly, but we're still getting more information than we would otherwise.

Edit: I mean, is there any question that official team statements will be chock full of open-minded ness and opportunity for all?

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
Or, King could have used his prominent media presence to take a stand and call out these assholes by highlighting their unwillingness to go on the record.

 
Yeah, that too

 

[Dogman]

Why would King do that with sources he'd like to use again? I get that they are being cowardly, but we're still getting more information than we would otherwise.

Edit: I mean, is there any question that official team statements will be chock full of open-minded ness and opportunity for all?

 
None whatsoever. This is precisely the reason Minny was brought up as a great potential PR move in the wake of the Kluwe scandal.

 

[mpx42]

I'd rather read an article full of accurate, anonymous quotes, than an article with no quotes and Peter King complaining. These guys aren't going on record.

 

[Super Nomario]

Anyhow, it's a little hard to chug up and down the field at 6'1" 260 (the core special teams guys tend to be a little smaller, like an Alexander or Fletcher or Izzo)  but it's certainly not unprecedented, and he will likely start there.

The closest analogue I can see in Belichick's draft history is Tully Banta-Cain, who was a productive rusher at Cal (13 sacks his senior year) and whose 6'2" 264 lbs measurements are similar to Sam's. He went the route you describe, starting on special teams and eventually growing into a useful role as a sub rusher.
 
Banta-Cain was a 7th-rounder though. If Sam slips that late, he's an option, but I don't think the Pats would use a 3rd-4th rounder on a guy who doesn't really have DE size or LB athleticism.

 

[mauf]

So is Goodell going to go on the record and condemn the bullshit various executives are spewing? The silence is deafening here – and it seems exactly like the kind of thing as the leader of an organization you'd want to come out in strong support of publicly, even if the behind-the-scenes reality is much more complicated. Hell, you could even say that it's going to be complicated so long as you also make clear going to happen.

Time for The Sheriff to step up.

 
The league has a policy against discrimination based on sexual orientation and has issued a supportive statement. I think that's a strong enough public stance. Any further steps would probably be more effective if done privately.

 

[jose melendez]

Can someone ask Tony Dungy about this please?

 

[Super Nomario]

I’m not trying to be a dick, but who cares what your opinion is on where he should be drafted? He’s a SEC Defensive player of the year. Over the last 10 years, here’s the round that the SEC defensive POY was drafted in:
 
7th round: 0
6th round: 0
5th round: 0
4th round: 0
3rd round: 0
2nd round: 0
1st round: 10
 
Now, maybe he isn’t a first round talent like his previous 10 predecessors, but there’s no fucking way this kid goes undrafted. He's the best defensive player in the best conference in football. Whether he makes it in the NFL is an entirely different story, but he will be drafted.

Sportsbook.com has Sam at +400 undrafted, his fourth-likeliest spot (6th and 7th round both +300, 5th +350).
http://www.sportsbook.ag/livesports?categoryId=1000

 

[wiffleballhero]

Maybe it is the small children who dominate the homefront, but after now seeing the infinity of 'distraction' comments from anonymous sources, the Dr Seuss issue here strikes me as just too rich: In the context of Green Eggs and Ham (an obviously didactic story about the importance of being willing to try unfamiliar, new things) the guy's name is 'Sam' (I am)!  
 
I do hope the Pats are the team that gives this guy a shot, even if he does not work out.
 
 
 
 

 

[Dogman]

Can someone ask Tony Dungy about this please?

 
I assume Dungy was one of the NFL guys Peter King has already asked.  To save Dungy any potential backlash, King changed his former title in the piece to Personnel Asst. or some such thing.

 

[TomRicardo]

 
Robert Kraft stated last May he'd welcome a gay player on the team.
 
BB brought in Tebow last summer despite the distraction factor. If he thinks Sam can play, then I think he'd have no trouble drafting him.

 
Bill Belichick would sign the Antichrist if he could help him win football games. 

 

[KiltedFool]

Only way he could be better named to be a linebacker was if his middle name was Will (it's Alan). 

 

[IdiotKicker]

 
Bill Belichick would sign the Antichrist if he could help him win football games. 

 
Player-coach?

 

[Tony C]

Is there another industry on the planet besides sports where otherwise apparently sane individuals can argue that well-paid professional adults aren't ready to handle something that a bunch of college guys had no problem with?

 
No kiddin'...It's one of the reasons I tend to think the whole lockerrooms won't accept him thing is overblown. I have no doubt guys will say that and those are homophobic places. I also have no doubt that can change quickly. Hell, Richie Incognito just tweeted support
 

Can someone ask Tony Dungy about this please?

 
Hah, that would be rich. I want this guy to be a Pats pick so bad. I do feel bad for him, though -- I have no expertise on if he's too much of a tweener or not (though I do want the Pats to get faster), but there will be a ton of pressure on him. Seems like he can handle it, though.

 

[Average Reds]

Is there another industry on the planet besides sports where otherwise apparently sane individuals can argue that well-paid professional adults aren't ready to handle something that a bunch of college guys had no problem with?

 
I don't think the players are the ones who are unable to handle it.  This is a generational thing, and the people who are uncomfortable are the front office and coaching personnel.  And (of course) the scouts, who had this to say about Michael Sam:
 

 
I asked a scouting director about Missouri defensive end/linebacker Michael Sam. I wanted to know if he thought the SEC's defensive player of the year had a chance to make the transition to linebacker — because there was a lot of work to do, particularly after seeing him struggle mightily in positional drills at linebacker — or find a home back at defensive end on the NFL level.
 
That's when the director said there were some "character things" he wanted to circle back on with Sam.

 
The quote is from a yahoo article written by Eric Edholm, where he reveals that scouts have apparently been digging into Sam's personal life for some time and were downgrading him based on the "character issues" they discovered.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-scouts-digging-around-michael-sam-personal-life-040729791--nfl.html
 
As an aside, I don't think there's any question that coming out reflects on Michael Sam's character.  Just not in the way these cretins think.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
I don't think the players are the ones who are unable to handle it.  This is a generational thing, and the people who are uncomfortable are the front office and coaching personnel.  

 
I disagree there. For example, there will be players who, due to their religious or political beliefs, will be uncomfortable. This is a social-cultural divide, not a generational one

 

[Blacken]

Bill Belichick would sign the Antichrist if he could help him win football games.

Mike Felger would tell you he did just that in the summer of 2007.

 

[Infield Infidel]

Sportsbook.com has Sam at +400 undrafted, his fourth-likeliest spot (6th and 7th round both +300, 5th +350).
http://www.sportsbook.ag/livesports?categoryId=1000

 
Was that set before or after the announcement?

 

[dbn]

 
Or, King could have used his prominent media presence to take a stand and call out these assholes by highlighting their unwillingness to go on the record.
 

In Peter King's defense, he is a journalist, not an editorialist. He never interjects his personal opinions into his columns.
 
(edit, because I had quoted wrong post)

 

[PedroKsBambino]

The closest analogue I can see in Belichick's draft history is Tully Banta-Cain, who was a productive rusher at Cal (13 sacks his senior year) and whose 6'2" 264 lbs measurements are similar to Sam's. He went the route you describe, starting on special teams and eventually growing into a useful role as a sub rusher.
 
Banta-Cain was a 7th-rounder though. If Sam slips that late, he's an option, but I don't think the Pats would use a 3rd-4th rounder on a guy who doesn't really have DE size or LB athleticism.

 
I don't particularly disagree with your conclusion, but did think it is worth noting that most of those drafts were as a 3-4 base and they now are mostly a 4-3 base.  That may not help Sam here, either.

 

[soxfan121]

 
No kiddin'...It's one of the reasons I tend to think the whole lockerrooms won't accept him thing is overblown. I have no doubt guys will say that and those are homophobic places. I also have no doubt that can change quickly. Hell, Richie Incognito just tweeted support

 
To echo Lose Remmerswal from up thread, I have no doubt that the word *SPAM  FILTER* would be used here on this site more often had it not been a "change in the locker room culture" several years ago that led to the word(s) being dropped. I've had my own lexicon changed by "locker room leadership". 
 
The most fascinating aspect to this story, IMO, was that his Missouri teammates knew for a full season and no one outed him. I forget who made this point up thread but it's a good one - NOTHING stays secret in today's twitterverse. Yet, Sam's teammates all acted like good people in public and didn't make it an issue. Enough of those teammates thought enough of him to vote him their POY. And several spoke on-the-record about how it was.not.an.issue.in.the.locker.room. 
 
Many more organizations than just the ones speculated most about (Pats, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Francisco, etc.) are ready for this "change to the locker room culture." The people NOT ready are the ones not in the locker rooms anymore - the ones with an interest in the status quo or have some trepidation about "dealing with this". (anonymous) Management is WAY behind the times here; San Diego had no troubles with Manti Te'o, the last time the grumpy old man media and the "it's how it's always been done" brigade became certain a guy would "disrupt" a locker room. 
 
And lastly, good for Richie Incognito. 

 

[Dogman]

 
I don't think the players are the ones who are unable to handle it.  This is a generational thing, and the people who are uncomfortable are the front office and coaching personnel.  And (of course) the scouts, who had this to say about Michael Sam:
 
 
The quote is from a yahoo article written by Eric Edholm, where he reveals that scouts have apparently been digging into Sam's personal life for some time and were downgrading him based on the "character issues" they discovered.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-scouts-digging-around-michael-sam-personal-life-040729791--nfl.html
 
As an aside, I don't think there's any question that coming out reflects on Michael Sam's character.  Just not in the way these cretins think.

 
I love that Edholm reveals that scouts have already told him that teams have uncovered "character issues" that will prevent them from drafting him.  What those character issues consist of is a secret though.

 

[Reverend]

 
I don't think the players are the ones who are unable to handle it.  This is a generational thing, and the people who are uncomfortable are the front office and coaching personnel.  And (of course) the scouts, who had this to say about Michael Sam:

 
I tried to leave it as ambiguous as to who the individuals were, but one way or another, some people apparently think the people can't handle it.
 
I'd like to think the players can handle it. I mean, they're supposed to be gamers right? Can the guy help the team win or not? Like when the Marine commandant was testifying before Congress and coming out (no pun intended) against ending Don't Ask Don't Tell and someone asked him what would happen if the policy repealed and he was initially confused by the question and then ultimately answered, "Um, we're Marines; we'll handle it," or something to that effect.

 

[Infield Infidel]

 
I disagree there. For example, there will be players who, due to their religious or political beliefs, will be uncomfortable. This is a social-cultural divide, not a generational one

 
I think it's somewhere in the middle. I'm assuming the dynamics are different in college as opposed to the pros. In college, all the players chose the school, largely based on the staff and also location, programs, conference, etc. It's almost completely the player's choice in which schools they select amongst the schools that offer scholarships. In the pros, most of the players on the team are drafted, so they didn't chose to be on that team, and of course free agency is a two-way street, with the player usually going to the highest bidder. 
 
It is telling that we actually have names of some players who have said they would be uncomfortable with it, and no names of front office or coaching personnel. 

 

[Shelterdog]

 
 
In Peter King's defense, he is a journalist, not an editorialist. He never interjects his personal opinions into his columns.
 
(edit, because I had quoted wrong post)
 

 
That's a joke, right? He interjects his personal opinion about everything in his columns.
 
Peter King sucks but this is one of the rare instances where a sports reporter seems to be doing a reasonable thing by granting a source anonymity.  The information is useful and--unlike in most sports reporting--relates to an issue of some public policy importance, the anonymity isn't hinderingour ability to figure out the sources' biases, we do have a good general description of the sources, and there is a reasonable fear of public backlash/job reprecussions if the NFL sources go on the record about this.

 

[Leather]

 
 
In Peter King's defense, he is a journalist, not an editorialist. He never interjects his personal opinions into his columns.
 
(edit, because I had quoted wrong post)
 

 
I'm sorry...this is a gag, right? 

 

[KiltedFool]

 
I disagree there. For example, there will be players who, due to their religious or political beliefs, will be uncomfortable. This is a social-cultural divide, not a generational one

 
 
And even that divide may not be as large or unbridgeable as you would think.
 
Outsports article.  Thought it reflected well both on the player and the writer.

 

[soxfan121]

And the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Michael Sam will be drafted. 
 
This is now either the biggest or second-biggest draft day storyline available. ESPN will absolutely do a segment about Sam's draft prospects on Day 1, in primetime. There will absolutely be groups of ex-players on a panel shouting at each other several times on Day 2, plus a super-long feature on Sam and maybe another about his draft-eligible teammates. And Day 3, this will be THE story (if he isn't off the board). It will dominate the coverage. To not have him drafted would be a PR problem for the NFL. Some media-savvy coach or GM will realize the way to distract from not getting the QB they needed is to take Sam and bask in the several interviews that team can give about how "all that matters is can he play football" and "our locker room has great individuals in it" and "it's my job to coach this team". 
 
If "90%" of scouts knew or had heard rumors, the best thing for Sam's draft position was to come out now. Without his announcement, he might slide down the board anonymously. With the announcement, he guarantees he gets drafted by someone. 
 
And if he's not gone by the 7th round, someone at ESPN will put up KFP's post about former SEC POY draft results. Because that's an interesting graphic. 

 

[Shelterdog]

The closest analogue I can see in Belichick's draft history is Tully Banta-Cain, who was a productive rusher at Cal (13 sacks his senior year) and whose 6'2" 264 lbs measurements are similar to Sam's. He went the route you describe, starting on special teams and eventually growing into a useful role as a sub rusher.
 
Banta-Cain was a 7th-rounder though. If Sam slips that late, he's an option, but I don't think the Pats would use a 3rd-4th rounder on a guy who doesn't really have DE size or LB athleticism.

 
Bruschi, Fletcher, and to a degree Ninkovich come to mind as well.  The Pats are going to have a bunch of sixth round picks (maybe three or four depnding on how the comp. picks work out) and I could certainly see them picking him up in that range.

 

[Average Reds]

 
I disagree there. For example, there will be players who, due to their religious or political beliefs, will be uncomfortable. This is a social-cultural divide, not a generational one

 
Those folks existed at Missouri and they were able to handle it.  I think the players will handle it just fine.

 

[Phragle]

Sam is down to #110 from #90 at CBS/NFL Draft Scout since yesterday.
 
Anyone else that that Sam's teammates look better because of this?

 

[Tony C]

 
That's a joke, right? He interjects his personal opinion about everything in his columns.
 
Peter King sucks but this is one of the rare instances where a sports reporter seems to be doing a reasonable thing by granting a source anonymity.  The information is useful and--unlike in most sports reporting--relates to an issue of some public policy importance, the anonymity isn't hinderingour ability to figure out the sources' biases, we do have a good general description of the sources, and there is a reasonable fear of public backlash/job reprecussions if the NFL sources go on the record about this.

 
including of fucking Starbucks....

 

[Curt S Loew]

 
Bruschi, Fletcher, and to a degree Ninkovich come to mind as well.  The Pats are going to have a bunch of sixth round picks (maybe three or four depnding on how the comp. picks work out) and I could certainly see them picking him up in that range.

Minor nitpick, but Fletcher was undrafted and Ninkovich was drafted by the Saints.

 

[JimD]

 
The league has a policy against discrimination based on sexual orientation and has issued a supportive statement. I think that's a strong enough public stance. Any further steps would probably be more effective if done privately.

 
That's all fine and good, but several media outlets are now reporting that scouts from multiple NFL teams were supposedly asking if Sam had a girlfriend.  Seems like there are plenty of men in various front offices who aren't taking Goodell's directive seriously.

 

[soxfan121]

Sam is down to #110 from #90 at CBS/NFL Draft Scout since yesterday.
 
Anyone else that that Sam's teammates look better because of this?

 
Yup. I think everyone associated with the Missouri football program is looking really good as this develops.

 

[E5 Yaz]

 
Those folks existed at Missouri and they were able to handle it.  I think the players will handle it just fine.

 
Totally depends on the locker room, the leadership therein, and his performance on the field. Because his college teammates acted tremendously does not mean that a group of professional athletes will do the same.
 
Heck, the Incognito-Martin situation points out how far afield teammate loyalty can go.

 

[Awesome Fossum]

Maybe I'm giving human beings too much credit, but I don't think it's going to be much of a problem at all. Jerry Smith's sexual orientation wasn't the best kept secret back in the 1970s, and the Redskins didn't implode. Whatever team Sam ends up on, provided its player leaders aren't active homophobes, will do just fine in 2014. I'm sure there are guys in the NFL that would be uncomfortable -- but this is sort of how some people get to experience personal growth. Nobody has a gay teammate until they do.

 

[DJnVa]

 
I tried to leave it as ambiguous as to who the individuals were, but one way or another, some people apparently think the people can't handle it.

 
I will totally not explain this right, but here's my thinking on their thinking, on this.
 
DISCLAIMER: This is what I think they are getting at, not my feelings.
 
1--Football is a "man's world". And I mean that in the cliched way you think I do. Macho men. The baddest of the bad. All that good stuff.
2--The more "manly" you are, the more of a problem you have with guys like Michael Sam. (The people doing this assuming are rather judgmental, no?)
3--As you move higher up the food chain in football (from HS to college to the NFL) those that survive and progress are even more "macho" than those a level below.
4--This self-selects the most "manly" and therefore those less able to "deal with a gay teammate". So, the higher up the ladder you go, the less likely they are to handle this well.
 
So, those thinking an NFL locker room may be a tougher nut to crack for someone like Michael Sam, are doing so from a rather high horse.

 

[dbn]

Of course the Peter King thing was a joke. C'mon, people.
 
Back on topic: I've been slowly losing interest in college football over the past few years, but now I have a team to cheer for. Go Tigers.

 

[Chief Wahoo]

 
I don't think the players are the ones who are unable to handle it.  This is a generational thing, and the people who are uncomfortable are the front office and coaching personnel.  And (of course) the scouts, who had this to say about Michael Sam:
 
 
The quote is from a yahoo article written by Eric Edholm, where he reveals that scouts have apparently been digging into Sam's personal life for some time and were downgrading him based on the "character issues" they discovered.
 
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-scouts-digging-around-michael-sam-personal-life-040729791--nfl.html
 
As an aside, I don't think there's any question that coming out reflects on Michael Sam's character.  Just not in the way these cretins think.

 
Just to play devil's advocate it could be he has character issues that have nothing to do with his sexual orientation.  Being homosexual certainly does not make one an asshole but there are a subset of assholes who happen to be homosexual as well.  I can think of a couple I've personally known.
 
(With that said I do think your take is more likely than my devil's advocate position.)

 

[Reverend]

 
I will totally not explain this right, but here's my thinking on their thinking, on this.
 
DISCLAIMER: This is what I think they are getting at, not my feelings.
 
1--Football is a "man's world". And I mean that in the cliched way you think I do. Macho men. The baddest of the bad. All that good stuff.
2--The more "manly" you are, the more of a problem you have with guys like Michael Sam. (The people doing this assuming are rather judgmental, no?)
3--As you move higher up the food chain in football (from HS to college to the NFL) those that survive and progress are even more "macho" than those a level below.
4--This self-selects the most "manly" and therefore those less able to "deal with a gay teammate". So, the higher up the ladder you go, the less likely they are to handle this well.
 
So, those thinking an NFL locker room may be a tougher nut to crack for someone like Michael Sam, are doing so from a rather high horse.

 
I agree with all of this that this is what those people are getting at, and I think it's well stated.
 
Part of the crux of this, though, that people of this POV don't seem to realize is that that means there is an inverse relationship between being macho and being, well, mature. 
 
 

 
Just to play devil's advocate it could be he has character issues that have nothing to do with his sexual orientation.  Being homosexual certainly does not make one an asshole but there are a subset of assholes who happen to be homosexual as well.  I can think of a couple I've personally known.
 
(With that said I do think your take is more likely than my devil's advocate position.)

 
It's certainly possible, but consider what we can most likely safely infer at this point: he's honest, forthright and courageous, plays hard, and has the respect and support of his teammates. It's not out of the question there are other character issues, but this is a good start, so one wonders what they expect to find--maybe he's a bad tipper or something?

 

[Shelterdog]

Minor nitpick, but Fletcher was undrafted and Ninkovich was drafted by the Saints.

 
Sure, but they came to the Pats as similar projects--6'2" DE types who were being converted to something else.  Of course Ninkovich went back to being a DE.

 

[jose melendez]

I don't know a damn thing about the draft, but it's really, really hard for me to imagine the SEC defensive player of the year being undrafted.  It's not going to happen.

 

[hunter05]

I would hold off on giving too much praise to his teammates. It's nice that he was able to come out on his own terms but this article suggests support wasn't universal. Which isn't surprising.

Missouri tight end Eric Waters, apparently tired of some parts of the narrative, took to Twitter to tell, well, the entirety of what it was like for Sam.

"Half of y'all posting these pics saying how proud you are. But most of y'all was the ones talkin s--t behind his back in the locker room," Waters tweeted (without the hyphens).

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1954822-michael-sam-in-the-nfl-players-execs-agree-there-are-no-easy-answers