NFL prospect has announced he's gay

Michael Sam who was the SEC defensive player of the year and a possible first round draft pick has announced he's gay. Could and probably will be the first ever gay player in the NFL. Best of luck to this guy because he's probably gonna need it.
First potential gay player in NFL

"I don't think football is ready for it just yet," said an NFL player personnel assistant. "In the coming decade or two, it's going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it's still a man's man game. To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It'd chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room."

I honestly don't know WHERE the bullying program comes from in this country.

The military should stop flying their fighter jets over stupid NFL football games until THAT non-profit corporation gets as progressive as the military is on matters of sexuality/

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Dreaming, several ex-NFLers came out after retiring. But if drafted, Sam would be the first active and out NFLer.

I love Friday Night Lights, but I don't really follow football because, you know, stage mother, smothering, etc, but this seems like a really big deal because he sounds like a very likely draft pick.

NFL Networks recently aired a short new documentary on Jerry Smith, a tight end for the Washington Redskins in the 60s and 70s who apparently had a record for catching more touchdowns than any other tight end in the league. Or something. (Again, smothering). Smith was gay and, like far too many, died of AIDS in the 80s. While he didn't formerly come out to his teammates in the 60s or 70s, most of his teammates seemed to know he was gay and he had a brief fling with another player, Dave Kopay. I was pleasantly surprised to hear about how his coach, Vince Lombardi, had some pretty strict anti-homophobia policies for the locker room, too.

The doc features interviews with the many of Smith's former team members and a good deal of them seemed to have loved him deeply as a friend and, at least from their statements, appeared to be far more progressive on this issue than we often give professional athletes credit for. If these gentlemen, who are now well into their 60s and 70s, can be so open and accepting, it makes me think that the 20 and 30-somethings who populate the league today and who likely knew and were friends with openly gay people in college will not have any major issues accepting an openly gay teammate. BTW, the NFL Networks film is very moving and worth seeking out. You can watch the individual segments of the doc on the NFL Networks site.




TRAILER - Jerry Smith: A Football LIfe

Well, I think if that is how the team feels, his feelings would be mutual.

If he is on a team with strong leadership and a good locker room it should be fine.

Now, Miami or some teams with a mess of a locker room or lack of real leadership, that would be a problem - and perhaps he is in his own way self-selecting out of situations where he would have an issue.

He apparently was out to his team and it was not an issue on the field. No matter where he went, If he had not come out as publicly as he did, there would be whispers about his sexuality, so he just faced it head on and said basically, "Yep, I'm gay - and a damn good football player."

He may drop a wee bit in the draft, but talent wins the day - and if he can play, most teams will draft him. Those that would not, he would not want to be in that locker room to begin with.

The self-importance of many people in the NFL is nauseating. People claiming he will "chemically imbalance" a locker room because football is for a "man's man" are revolting.

By all accounts the sky didn't fall when the military got rid of DADT, and their purpose is significantly more important than the mighty NFL.

Various news sites have reported comments from (unnamed) NFL sources, supposed from staff all the way up to general manager, stating that this will hurt his draft selection. One even claimed that he may go undrafted because of this.

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I come from a football family and for me personally, I don't see this affecting him getting drafted. Will it affect what round? Yeah probably but in the end he'll get a job. It's still early that this all will die down before the draft in May and who knows? A team may want all the free publicity. And for the reporter who insist theres a gay player on every team, she's right.

Personally Madbrain I seem him just bulking up which is possible. Changing position is always tough.

And again...the U.S. military figured it out.

The NFL needs to get over itself.

Overnight, Sam fell 70 spots on the draft prospect board, suggesting his announcement may have done professional damage. Former NFL player and coach Herm Edwards described Sam as a player with “off the field issues” who will be “bringing baggage into your locker room.” Not surprising at all.

The responses of those players and coaches was predictable. But the official NFL response was admirable:

We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.

Jon Green on americablog.com has an excellent analysis of just how big a deal this is to the NFL (and in American society):

3 reasons why Michael Sam coming out as gay is a huge deal for the NFL

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