General Discussion

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

55. But should it?

Mon Feb 10, 2014, 07:13 PM

Feb 2014

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/michael-sam-supposedly-going-distraction-doesn-t-sense-163928399--nfl.html

Michael Sam's story itself is much different. This isn't a weird scandal about a girlfriend that was a hoax, it's about a young man coming out as gay, something that no NFL player has done during his career. I'm not equating the two situations, just the false narratives surrounding them. Since Sam made his announcement on Sunday, I keep hearing that drafting Sam would somehow be a daily circus that would wreck an NFL team. That's not realistic.

Sam will face a lot of questions at the NFL scouting combine next week. For the team that drafts him, the media in that city will revisit the story for its fans. In training camp, the local and national media will check in to see how he's being accepted and all of that....

Anyone who thinks that Sam will be the focus of attention every day isn't thinking about this clearly (and that includes some media members who should know better). There's only so many ways to say, "Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player." Even if Sam decided to talk about being gay every day during the season (and he won't), it would get old by about Day 3. Maybe sooner. Beat writers will go write about the quarterback's accuracy issues or the cornerback's hamstring injury.

His teammates' acceptance of him will be a story, but they won't be dumb enough to harass Sam. They are aware how San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver was criticized for anti-gay statements at the Super Bowl a year ago. They saw through Richie Incognito how acting unprofessionally around a teammate in the locker room can end up. NFL players have already shown plenty of support for Sam. The general attitude is they don't care about a guy's sexual preference as long as he can play. The ones that don't agree with him being gay aren't going to ruin their careers over it. Presumably, there won't be any angle there.

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NFL spokespeople: Michael Sam�s NFL Draft Stock Will Drop After Announcing He Is Gay [View all] kpete Feb 2014 OP

would not be shocked at all--if he falls in the draft i hope he falls to the packers dembotoz Feb 2014 #1

+1 Scuba Feb 2014 #4

-100000 Chisox08 Feb 2014 #19

The Packers will trade Seneca Wallace for Cutler, but the Bears have to throw LondonReign2 Feb 2014 #37

Yeah, we already have Clay. AAO Feb 2014 #61

I don't have a problem with that. SCVDem Feb 2014 #62

I find it hilarious that college kids -- not always known for their sensitivity, discretion and Brickbat Feb 2014 #2

Really. Cha Feb 2014 #3

From an ex-NFL player: Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #6

All it took was a little vehicular homicide to find his inner evolution Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #11

True. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #21

To be fair mythology Feb 2014 #86

Had the driver not been drunk Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #87

conservative musselmanm Feb 2014 #97

To be fair, it's easy to be ok with it now that his college career is over... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #24

Uh, his teammates knew about it. HERVEPA Feb 2014 #28

And gay female athletes at Baylor are evidently the worst-kept-secret Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #30

He came out to his team Sgent Feb 2014 #63

he came out to his team last august frylock Feb 2014 #38

The Missouri football stadium . . . aggiesal Feb 2014 #53

Cheers erupted in the bars in Columbia loyalsister Feb 2014 #31

If the GOP continues to resist exboyfil Feb 2014 #32

I'm not at all surprised, though. None of my young relatives in a red state, or their friends, pnwmom Feb 2014 #52

"but at this point in time it�s still a man�s-man game." Vashta Nerada Feb 2014 #5

If it's a man's-man game I guess they'll consider switching back to leather helmets (sarcasm) Mike Daniels Feb 2014 #15

Off topic... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #42

I actually think it would improve the fundamentals of tackling as well Mike Daniels Feb 2014 #96

When I was in the 9th grade playing football Jenoch Feb 2014 #82

Man's man...ugh hibbing Feb 2014 #46

This always gets me... justiceischeap Feb 2014 #56

As one of my favorite ads LibertyLover Feb 2014 #95

Nothing like a good old American testosterone filled bigot. Lint Head Feb 2014 #7

Roger Goodell's brother is gay. Are_grits_groceries Feb 2014 #8

Maybe they can just give him his own shower stall...so all the "he men" won't get excited and can libdem4life Feb 2014 #9

Sam's combine numbers will matter, because he is an undersized defensive end, JRLeft Feb 2014 #10

This message was self-deleted by its author Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #12

Boom Sound 416 kpete Feb 2014 #13

Cheers Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #14

One thing about the nfl good or bad Boom Sound 416 Feb 2014 #16

�In the coming decade or two, it�s going to be acceptable,....: Sheepshank Feb 2014 #17

It's NOT human nature as this asshat scout says... joeybee12 Feb 2014 #18

There's no real incentive to take him on... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #20

There is exactly the same incentive that would exist if he were straight: his particular skills. pnwmom Feb 2014 #78

I would suggest that some of the players do care... Lost_Count Feb 2014 #84

The Guy Is A Talented Player.... Laxman Feb 2014 #22

Why would an NFL player personnel assistant have any weight on the draft status of someone LynneSin Feb 2014 #23

I would assume Sgent Feb 2014 #64

The article says "an NFL player personnel assistant" LynneSin Feb 2014 #67

hey, maybe the bills can snap him up then... dionysus Feb 2014 #25

to a man, they refuse to put their names behind their comments DallasNE Feb 2014 #26

Hope my team drafts him. Octafish Feb 2014 #27

Exactly... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #43

NO! Falcons need a good DE. nt 7962 Feb 2014 #44

I think he gets switched... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #45

"Also to a man, they refuse to put their names behind their comments" abelenkpe Feb 2014 #29

Denver should pick him up Timez Squarez Feb 2014 #33

I don't think it will matter LittleBlue Feb 2014 #34

The young man is brave and will make it up in endorsements you shitstain NFL owners Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2014 #35

so there are no gay football fans? madrchsod Feb 2014 #36

It Is Highly Unlikely..... Laxman Feb 2014 #39

It should be noted that the story says the players don't care. jeff47 Feb 2014 #51

Sam's problem of making it in the NFL has a lot more to do w/ his size then his sexuality Botany Feb 2014 #40

He is not close to 1st round talent but might go in the 3-5 range. Elwood P Dowd Feb 2014 #47

Before this, he was a fifth round pick... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #41

The NFL and that out of touch with America? JDPriestly Feb 2014 #48

NFL teams do not like distractions that take the focus off the field. Jenoch Feb 2014 #49

Distractions that take focus off the field are a routine part of life in the NFL... Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #71

Excatly, a team can get the same talent without the distraction. At some point in the draft RB TexLa Feb 2014 #79

I hope this guy becomes an All Pro in the NFL NewJeffCT Feb 2014 #50

The issue is the media... teams will shy away from him because they dont want the distraction davidn3600 Feb 2014 #54

But should it? KamaAina Feb 2014 #55

Some bigot's loss will be another team's gain... Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #57

+1 treestar Feb 2014 #58

These people don't have the guts to say what they really mean. alarimer Feb 2014 #59

"Do you want to be the team to quote-unquote �break that barrier?�" beac Feb 2014 #60

But certain teams may badly want to sign him, in part, for being the first gay player MannyGoldstein Feb 2014 #65

Truth: Coaches will not want the distraction he will create. OmahaBlueDog Feb 2014 #66

Also truth: Some smart owner will want him for the controversy and publicity, as will a sponsor:) grahamhgreen Feb 2014 #75

"Also to a man, they refuse to put their names behind their comments." Loaded Liberal Dem Feb 2014 #68

Very manly... 3catwoman3 Feb 2014 #72

Shmucks iandhr Feb 2014 #69

I Don't Care if he likes Screwing Goats Wolf Frankula Feb 2014 #70

...and this is the reason... Aquavit Feb 2014 #73

Which makes him a steal as he will be an even bigger fan draw. grahamhgreen Feb 2014 #74

Some team is gonna get a great player AnnieBW Feb 2014 #76

"This is going to drop him down" workinclasszero Feb 2014 #77

Unfortunately, ENDA has never become federal law Rhythm Feb 2014 #98

A man's man bravely states who he is and how he feels nobodyspecial Feb 2014 #80

Sam is too small for an NFL DE. Jenoch Feb 2014 #81

The real test of having a homosexual Jenoch Feb 2014 #83

A "man's man" game? Heywood J Feb 2014 #85

If Not Now, When? DallasNE Feb 2014 #88

"it�s still a man�s-man game" -- TBF Feb 2014 #89

It will be a huge steal for the... TRoN33 Feb 2014 #90

Funny as hell VA_Jill Feb 2014 #91

"It�d chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room.� defacto7 Feb 2014 #92

NFL CHICKENSHIT NO NAME SAYS THE NFL ISN'T READY FOR A HOMOSEXUAL... drynberg Feb 2014 #93

I think that's bullshit. sofa king Feb 2014 #94

"...(T)o a man, rocktivity Feb 2014 #99