He was the SEC defensive player of the year. A beast defensively. The fact he was the best defensive player in the best league and draft so low was a bitch slap in the face. Gay man or not.
I bought a Sam jersey today. Looking forward to wearing it. I like football but I've never had a team to root for (besides the Oregon Ducks.). I wanted Paul Allen to win this year so that was cool but now I'm Saint Louis all the way. As for PapaG, TONS of professional athletes say they should've been drafted higher. You have to believe that to succeed in sports. Good for him and there is nothing wrong with partying. Where did the other players party? Are you pissed at them too? Calm down. Sam is a hero to all gay people, athletes or not, who have been afraid to be out to their family or friends let alone the whole world.
Sam was the defensive player of the year before everyone knew he was gay. He's a legit football player. A player that a lot of teams didn't want to have to cater to and watch out for if they drafted him. After all, its a mans game.
Every draft "expert" had him going around the 5th round pre combine. He completely tanked at the combine and then people said 6th -7th. Being gay had far less to do with his slide than his slow 40 and shuttle time
NFL Football is a meritocracy, if you can play, you can stay. Guess we will see, not sure why some people are so excited to pick his nits though
Because haters gotta hate! Congratulations to Michael Sam and wishing him a successful NFL career and happiness in his personal life. He comes from a horrible family situation (3 siblings dead, 2 in prison, only one to go to college), manage to keep his head together and work hard for success.
Crand I'm curious what you think about NFL franchises possibly using players like Sam or Collins as a way to sell jerseys, bring in revenue? I'm not asking to be a smartass, I'm just curious what you think about these players possibly being a mascot of sorts. I hope Sam is able to come in, make the team, and actually be a difference maker on the field. I think it would mean more than just being on the team. Getting drafted is great, but it would be much more impactful if he comes in and eventually makes the pro bowl. People are already buying his jersey though. The rams will easily get back whatever they pay him, strictly from jersey sales. Kingspeed already bought one. I'm just wondering if it would bother you at all if a team uses Sam only as a figurehead and not actually as a member of the team.
NateBishop, sports is a business, as we have heard ad nauseum. Jason Collins has brought business value far above his "sports" vaule alone. Sam is doing the same - although if he does not make the team the jersey sales will go down. I don't think "mascot" quite describes it. More like a team drafting/signing a bench guy (or NFL equivalent) who is tremendously popular for some reason not strictly tied to sports, a local guy, for example. But gay players like Sam will not always be Collins type, that is, not impact players. I don't think that's true at all. Sam may well be an impact player on defense. And as more players come out we'll see more variety - scrubs, bench jockeys, stars, superstars. And sometimes bad guys who get in trouble and cause problems on teams. Because those are human attributes.
King, if you've never gone to pro game like you do all the time with the Blazers, take a trip this year to watch Sam and the Rams, I'll bet you would have a blast supporting your new team. Oh, and yes, nice to see Sam drafted, hope he proves his worth on the field.
I think there have been plenty gay players that were impactful, but they weren't out of the closet. Sam has the potential to be the first openly gay player that has an impact on the game. My question was whether it would bother you if they kept him on the team but never played him, simply to sell merchandise to people who don't give a shit about football? He sells jerseys. He'll get endorsements. He could bring in ad revenue. Do you think it's a negative to be used by the team to make money simply because he's an openly gay football player?
There most certainly have been impactful closeted gay players. We'll probably never know how many. I would be offended if the Rams kept Sam just for jersey sales and did not play him, even on their practice squad. Because he has said he wants to be a football player who is gay. Not a gay man in a football jersey.
My comment was in reply to the suggestion that the Rams possibly drafted Sam as a sort of mascot for jersey sales. I think they intend to give him a chance.
I think they do, too, but they're downplaying his chances. He's coming in at a position that they have proven good players. So they say.
