Potentially the first openly gay NFL player

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**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

Source

Former Missouri Tigers defensive end and 2014 NFL draft entrant Michael Sam announced Sunday in interviews with ESPN and The New York Times that he is gay.

Chris Connelly of ESPN's Outside The Lines and The New York Times' John Branch were first to report the news of this landmark development:

"I understand how big this is," Sam said, per Connelly. "It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL."

Sam says that his experiences at the Senior Bowl shaped his decision to make the announcement:

"I didn't realize how many people actually knew, and I was afraid that someone would tell or leak something out about me," he said. "I want to own my truth. ... No one else should tell my story but me."

He had already confided in a few close friends, Sam recalled, and had dated a fellow athlete who was not a football player -- so while coming out to his Mizzou teammates last year was a key moment, it came almost as an afterthought, during preseason training camp.

"Coaches just wanted to know a little about ourselves, our majors, where we're from, and something that no one knows about you," Sam said. "And I used that opportunity just to tell them that I was gay. And their reaction was like, 'Michael Sam finally told us.' "

Asked what that moment felt like, Sam said, "I was kind of scared, even though they already knew. Just to see their reaction was awesome. They supported me from Day One. I couldn't have better teammates. ... I'm telling you what: I wouldn't have the strength to do this today if I didn't know how much support they'd given me this past semester."

He took to Twitter once the interview aired to thank his supporters:

The NFL released a statement after the news broke (via ESPN):

Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel and director of athletics Mike Alden also released a statement via MUTigers.com.

Sam is an impressive, versatile athlete at 6'2" and 255 pounds and his skills figure to translate well to the pros. The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year has the potential to be an impact pass-rusher at either defensive end or outside linebacker.

With his ability to get after the quarterback (11.5 sacks in 2013), and sheer size and speed, Sam could be a decent contributor as a rookie in 2014. OptimumScouting.com's Mark Dulgerian provided his take from what he saw at the Senior Bowl, noting that Sam is best suited at the 4-3 defensive end position he played in college, per The Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor:

That seems to be where he’s more comfortable, getting into his rush moves and using his initial power instead of setting up defenders off the edge from a two-point stance. I didn’t see him much in pass coverage, but from what I know about him and what I saw (Monday) … that’s really not his strong suit, overall.

As steep as the learning curve can be in making the leap to the NFL, the adjustment on the field might be easier than what Sam faces in assimilating to whichever locker room and organization he walks into. Sexual orientation and homosexuality specifically has been a taboo issue in the NFL, as no active players have come out publicly in the history of the league.

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who is an advocate for gay rights, had said this past offseason that as many as four players were considering coming out at the same time.

In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper just days later in April, Ayanbadejo discussed the matter further, as reported by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio:

[T]hese players, some of them are anonymous, some of them we know who they are, but their identity is super secret and nobody wants to reveal who they are, and some of them don’t want to reveal who they are, rightfully so because it’s entirely up to them what they are going to do. What we want to facilitate is getting them all together so they can lean on each other, so they can have a support group. And potentially it’s possible, it’s fathomable, that they could possibly do something together, break a story together.

The four players never came forward, but the group mentality that could make such a decision to go public a little easier is a sound tactic given the PR implications of making such an announcement.

That's something Sam seems undaunted by.

Although NBA center Jason Collins came out to the public as the first North American major sports athlete to do so, he was already an established presence in his sport and was at a late juncture in his career.

For a young player to do this ahead of the NFL draft is a bold move by Sam, but it's also a refreshing, transparent approach that suggests he is prepared to be honest and take control of his own situation. That's something NFL teams will undoubtedly appreciate.

Sam spoke about the draft process and how he hopes he'll be received in the locker room:

"I just want to go to the team who drafts me," he said, "because that team knows about me, knows that I'm gay, and also knows that I work hard. That's the team I want to go to."

Sam said that despite some comments from current players, he doesn't anticipate difficulty gaining acceptance in an NFL locker room.

"Hopefully it will be the same like my locker room," he said. "It's a workplace. if you've ever been in a Division I or pro locker room, it's a business place. You want to act professional."

Plus, all indications are that Sam has been a positive influence in the Tigers program as an upbeat player who helped make the day-to-day rigor of practices fun with his strong personality. Fellow defensive end Shane Ray elaborated on some of Sam's funny antics in an Oct. 10 report by Tod Palmer of The Kansas City Star:

Mike Sam is a singer. He creates a remix to any song and he sings it at practice repeatedly...Mike is our comedian and he gets us through practice...Practice is essentially a job. Every day, you go out there and you’re working, but you don’t want to go out there and just be going through the motions.

Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated spoke with an NFL player personnel assistant on how this announcement will impact Sam:

"I don't think football is ready for it just yet. 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."

It's interesting to note that Sam did not speak with the media in a mass interview between preseason practice in August until he was preparing for his final game at Missouri, which was an AT&T Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State.

Sam discussed his passion for football after being just the 13th consensus All-American in Tigers program history and why he averted interviews for so long, per the Columbia Daily Tribune's David Morrison:

It honestly doesn't matter what star you're ranked. As long as you have a good motor, you can play football and love the game, I think you can be one of the top people in the nation. [...]

If you think I'm a shy person, you've got another thing coming. I was focusing on playing football and focusing on graduating. I think [talking to the media] was an outside distraction.

All indications are that Sam has made a significant impact on and off the field in his time in Columbia and has made strides as a player and as a person. Even though he will likely encounter scrutiny from various parties for this announcement, Sam appears to be eager to get to the next level and see where his potential and sensational athleticism can take him.

That should be enough to sway front offices that might be on the fence after Sam's public stance on his sexual orientation. It shows courage and is an indication that Sam is comfortable with who he is and isn't afraid to share it no matter what others think

It's a good step forward at least

**Frazzled**

Am I the only one who's sick of it all? Seriously gay is no longer the new black. I don't care at all, and am just tired to death of hearing about it already.

I have lesbian inlaws. They're good people. So it s a non issue for me. If one of the kids had turned out that way I don't care. My 12 gauge is nondiscriminatory and this would make it is easier to get past the "Rodney Test" (if Rodney doesn't try to bite your face off you're ok, if not well, here's directions to the nearest clinic, try not to bleed on the way out).

**iproxtaco**

This is a pretty big deal, especially considering he's done this as a prospect draft candidate. A number sports people have come out, as far back as the 80's, but all that I know of, with exception of rugby union and league international Gareth Thomas, have done so after retiring from the sport. All the best and I'll be looking out for him on draft day.

**Hlaine Larkin mk2**

Frazzled wrote:Am I the only one who's sick of it all? Seriously gay is no longer the new black. I don't care at all, and am just tired to death of hearing about it already.

I have lesbian inlaws. They're good people. So it s a non issue for me. If one of the kids had turned out that way I don't care. My 12 gauge is nondiscriminatory and this would make it is easier to get past the "Rodney Test" (if Rodney doesn't try to bite your face off you're ok, if not well, here's directions to the nearest clinic, try not to bleed on the way out).

The fact that bullying still occurs (see Jonathan Martin incident this year) in football teams and how rare openly gay athletes are; it stands as a rare example that you can be openly gay and a professional athlete

iproxtaco wrote:This is a pretty big deal, especially considering he's done this as a prospect draft candidate. A number sports people have come out, as far back as the 80's, but all that I know of, with exception of rugby union and league international Gareth Thomas, have done so after retiring from the sport. All the best and I'll be looking out for him on draft day.

Jason Collins (NBA player) can out last year but is currently a Free Agent

**Steve steveson**

Male elite level athletes in pro team sports is incredibly rare for them to come out,and going on the number that come out after retiring I would say it is not through lack of gay players. This IS a problem. It shows that it is not accepted, and I think that there is a big problem with bullying and homophobia.

Also, if he makes it in to the NFL... Gay NFL player? Thats got to be worth some major $$$ in advertising to him and the team. how much more of a masculine gay icon could you get than an NFL player? That team will get allot of new supporters.

**Relapse**

This ground was gone over in the 70's with professional football players talking the number of gays there were in the sport back then.

**Alexzandvar**

Relapse wrote:
This ground was gone over in the 70's with professional football players talking the number of gays there were in the sport back then.

There's a difference between just being gay and in the NFL to being gay in the NFL AND advocating for better treatment of homosexuals not only in the NFL but in general.

Plus this is a good thing, since if super hard right starts refusing to watch football, maybe we will get better commercials than just: beerbeerbeersexyladiesbeerbeerberrmonstertrucksgunsshootingUSAUSAUSA

**Frazzled**

Plus this is a good thing, since if super hard right starts refusing to watch football, maybe we will get better commercials than just: beerbeerbeersexyladiesbeerbeerberrmonstertrucksgunsshootingUSAUSAUSA

I'm sorry you lost me there. Better commercials then that? Must involve bacon and smellovision.

**Alexzandvar**

Frazzled wrote:

Plus this is a good thing, since if super hard right starts refusing to watch football, maybe we will get better commercials than just: beerbeerbeersexyladiesbeerbeerberrmonstertrucksgunsshootingUSAUSAUSA

I'm sorry you lost me there. Better commercials then that? Must involve bacon and smellovision.

As much as I love bacon, I do think a change from the status quo of current football commerical staple of beer, sex and cars would make it easier to not get bored when watching a big game.

Then again Im not a super huge football fan.

And by that I mean Im an extremely bitter redskins fan

**Relapse**

Alexzandvar wrote:
Relapse wrote:
This ground was gone over in the 70's with professional football players talking the number of gays there were in the sport back then.

There's a difference between just being gay and in the NFL to being gay in the NFL AND advocating for better treatment of homosexuals not only in the NFL but in general.

Plus this is a good thing, since if super hard right starts refusing to watch football, maybe we will get better commercials than just: beerbeerbeersexyladiesbeerbeerberrmonstertrucksgunsshootingUSAUSAUSA

All been done before, as I said.

**paulson games**

Don't really give a crap what type of hole people like to put it in, that's their business but I've very tired that people feel the need to parade their choice as though it were a confrontational exchange. If you're gay great, why the need to shout it from every mountain top and public platform? You typically don't see straight people making a big deal about their sexual preferences, you don't tend to see a straight football player going oh yeah I just won the superbowl I'm going to nail so much **** don't hate me just because I love women.

On a secondary note why do people even care what athletes say or do in their personal lives? They are people who throw a ball for a living why does that make them a role model? Hard work and dedication is admirable but you can find that in nearly every profession and walk of life, most of it being done all for a tiny fraction of what star athletes make. Maybe people should teach their kids to admire actual role models for a change, soldiers who live and die for their country, good cops that serve their communities, teachers, ministers and community leaders that actually contribute something to the future generation beyond a happy memory about how well some dude hiked or caught a ball in a game.

**Frazzled**

On a secondary note why do people even care what athletes say or do in their personal lives? .

Agreed.

**4oursword**

I always assumed it mattered for a couple of reasons.

It proves it's ok. I don't know about where you guys live, but "gay" is still used as an insult locally to me. If someone's role model is openly gay, then they will likely not use the term as an insult, nor will they allow others to use it. I will correct anyone who uses gay as an insult.

And athletes are basically celebrities. We as a culture have an obsession with Celebrities, and their business becomes ours.

As is my opinion, anyway.

**insaniak**

It matters because it's something that society is still trying to get a grip on. There is so much hysteria out there about homosexuality, and so there is a need to force people to confront it, if only to get people used to the idea so they stop coming out with nonsense like this:

"Imagine if he's the guy next to me and, you know, I get dressed, naked, taking a shower, the whole nine, and it just so happens he looks at me. How am I supposed to respond?" "
From here.

The obvious answer being '...the same way you would if anyone else looks at you...?'

There's this bizarre idea amongst so many heterosexual guys that any gay man in the room with them would be totally unable to restrain themselves from leaping on them and going all Discovery Channel on them.

**d-usa**

Didn't we have some fallout from a professional athlete supporting the same-sex marriage efforts in some states?

And straight athletes do shout their sexual preference from every mountain top and they put their "straightness" on display.

People focus on their hot girlfriends, their trophy-wife, their sexual prowess, etc. Whenever they make a public appearance with their women, they make a public declaration that they are straight. It's just that we are used to straight people being out in public with their straight partners doing straight things.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

insaniak wrote:

There's this bizarre idea amongst so many heterosexual guys that any gay man in the room with them would be totally unable to restrain themselves from leaping on them and going all Discovery Channel on them.

I always wonder if those same people would think "I saw this lady and she was smoking hot and barely dressed. What was I supposed to think and do?"

**insaniak**

"I saw this lady, and she was smoking hot and barely dressed, and I thought 'heh... boobies!'... and then I remembered that I have awesome pecs. Seriously, look at these pecs!'

**Ahtman**

It seems strange to say this doesn't matter when we also had thread just days ago about people sending death threats to a five year old because there was a lesbian couple on the show she was in once.

**dogma**

insaniak wrote:

There's this bizarre idea amongst so many heterosexual guys that any gay man in the room with them would be totally unable to restrain themselves from leaping on them and going all Discovery Channel on them.

In their defense popular culture has a tendency to hypersexualize homosexual characters, so there a ton of people whose only experience with gay men is a viewing a highly flamboyant pastiche.

**whembly**

This is my college team...

We've heard whispers of this two years ago.

Awesome player... he was statistically quiet for the last few games because he was double/tripled teamed.

He's going to be good in the NFL.

**Palindrome**

Relapse wrote:

All been done before, as I said.

To no effect apparently.

**Relapse**

Palindrome wrote:
Relapse wrote:

All been done before, as I said.

To no effect apparently.

I'm not saying it did, just that it's been done before.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Ahtman wrote:
It seems strange to say this doesn't matter when we also had thread just days ago about people sending death threats to a five year old because there was a lesbian couple on the show she was in once.

A very good point.

**paulson games**

insaniak wrote:
"I saw this lady, and she was smoking hot and barely dressed, and I thought 'heh... boobies!'... and then I remembered that I have awesome pecs. Seriously, look at these pecs!'

Please.... I wouldn't even be tempted by that. I spend all my time at home oiled up and flexing in front of my mirror. Welcome to the sweet, sweet, gun show that is me.

**Johnnytorrance**

iproxtaco wrote:
This is a pretty big deal, especially considering he's done this as a prospect draft candidate. A number sports people have come out, as far back as the 80's, but all that I know of, with exception of rugby union and league international Gareth Thomas, have done so after retiring from the sport. All the best and I'll be looking out for him on draft day.

No, this isn't a big deal. He's a guy who has sex with men. That's all it is. He happens to play football and is good at it. Being gay is not the same as being black in the 1800's - 1950's. Not even in the same ball park. People have been gay thru out the ages,

You know what's big deal? If he got his boy friend pregnant!

**Frazzled**

Ahtman wrote:
It seems strange to say this doesn't matter when we also had thread just days ago about people sending death threats to a five year old because there was a lesbian couple on the show she was in once.

Disney matters - the wife would take their cruise and make me go if she could.
5 years olds matter - they're cute. Its the time before they become annoying and a plague upon the rest of us.
Thug athletes six months out of their next arrest photos no matter. You wouldn't invite them to your barbeque unless it was a sting operation to serve outstanding warrants.

**iproxtaco**

Johnnytorrance wrote:
iproxtaco wrote:
This is a pretty big deal, especially considering he's done this as a prospect draft candidate. A number sports people have come out, as far back as the 80's, but all that I know of, with exception of rugby union and league international Gareth Thomas, have done so after retiring from the sport. All the best and I'll be looking out for him on draft day.

No, this isn't a big deal. He's a guy who has sex with men. That's all it is. He happens to play football and is good at it. Being gay is not the same as being black in the 1800's - 1950's. Not even in the same ball park. People have been gay thru out the ages,

You know what's big deal? If he got his boy friend pregnant!

I echo insaniak's point. Just very recently there was a thread reporting that a five year old kid received death threats because a lesbian couple appeared on the Disney channel show she stars in. The United States is still not entirely comfortable with different genders and sexuality, especially in sports.

The fact that he's gay is not what makes it a big deal. The fact that he's shouting about from the rooftops, in the country he lives in, in his situation as a future member of the nations biggest sport, is what makes it a big deal.

**Polonius**

Saying that a person can be gay, but only if they do it privately, is still discriminatory. Why shouldn't a gay person be able to openly life his life as he wants?

You can say its not a big deal for an NFL prospect to come out publicly, but it would be a big deal if he was outed by somebody else.

People keep saying it's not like being black, which is true, but lets not pretend our country is 100% okay with homosexuality.

**Seaward**

Polonius wrote:
Saying that a person can be gay, but only if they do it privately, is still discriminatory. Why shouldn't a gay person be able to openly life his life as he wants?

A person should be able to. Just as I should be able to say that I don't give a gak and am sick of hearing about it.

**Polonius**

Seaward wrote:
Polonius wrote:
Saying that a person can be gay, but only if they do it privately, is still discriminatory. Why shouldn't a gay person be able to openly life his life as he wants?

A person should be able to. Just as I should be able to say that I don't give a gak and am sick of hearing about it.

You can, although part of my wonders why you are sick of hearing about it? It's a pretty tiny piece of information. IF you are truly a sort of pop culture vacuum, and dislike any news about the personal lives of others, then that's weird but consistent.

If you are sick of hearing about it because you don't like that gay people aren't shamed into silence anymore, that's still intolerant.

**Frazzled**

Seaward wrote:
Polonius wrote:
Saying that a person can be gay, but only if they do it privately, is still discriminatory. Why shouldn't a gay person be able to openly life his life as he wants?

A person should be able to. Just as I should be able to say that I don't give a gak and am sick of hearing about it.

Ditto'd

Again, I don't care if you are or aren't, just stay the hell off my lawn. I am just tired of the constant "news" about it. Who gives a gak?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

You can, although part of my wonders why you are sick of hearing about it? It's a pretty tiny piece of information. IF you are truly a sort of pop culture vacuum, and dislike any news about the personal lives of others, then that's weird but consistent.

Its not weird. Being a guy, and giving a gak about all the losers on the front cover of the grocery rack mags is weird.

If you are sick of hearing about it because you don't like that gay people aren't shamed into silence anymore, that's still intolerant.

Thats a feigned attack. There are many who are ok with it, but don't want the PDA drama from anyone.

**d-usa**

Are you guys just as sick of hearing about any other aspect of their private lives?