http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/s...-ahead-of-nfl-draft.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1 So now the question becomes: As far as we have advanced as a society with the concept of homosexuality, but with as much as we still have to go, will Michael Sam be drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft? I've added a poll, but we can discuss in this thread. I find the whole story fascinating from both the human element and the way it is an obvious litmus test for the way the NFL on the whole would respond in REALITY to the question of "would you accept a gay athlete?" No more words are necessary from the PR people drawing big salaries from teams - there's an opportunity for actual actions on the table now...
SI has already asked coaches and FO people about the news, and the responses offered a potentially bleak picture: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/co...140209/michael-sam-draft-stock/#ixzz2sslb4IBr
I don't think it affects his draft stock. Who cares what he does off the field, if he can win us games I'm happy.
He's too good a player to not be draft, but I think it will hurt his stock. He's a good guy; he just happens to be homosexual.
If Sam is still around by the Jets pick in round 4 and he can show he can play as a 3-4 OLB....hey by all means take him. No problem with that.
Some teams will knock him down. Some teams will remove him entirely. Others won't care, but if those teams get the sense that enough other teams are dropping him, they might pass on him, hoping to get him later. I don't think any team would move him up for this, but you never know. This does take courage, and clearly his teammates at Missouri were fine with it (as they should be).
According to what I've read, many of his teammates at Missouri have known for years, and supported him anyway. It's pretty likely that Sheldon Richardson was among those who knew, since they played together for three years. That may make the Jets a good landing spot if those two guys have a good relationship, which they most likely do. Another consideration is that a Division-I/SEC football program, with a good number of NFL talents, accepted him and embraced him by all accounts. If the guy can play on the NFL level, would an NFL locker room be that much different?
He's too good to become an UDFA. However, I think every team in the NFL has knocked him down at least one round on their boards.
Being gay shouldn't even matter nowadays, but it's sad how not everybody views it that way. He'll probably drop a little bit because of this, but I think he'll still be drafted in the 4th or 5th round on talent alone. Hopefully we can snag him in those rounds.
I have no problem with the Jets taking him in the mid to late rounds .... we need young depth at OLB, and this guy fits the bill, even with reports than he is shorter than listed. He is athletic, fast and has proven able to get the to QB. In the end his sexuality should play no part ... his ability to help a team wins games should be the only consideration.
On the surface, good for him. Sam has shown immense bravery in coming out, and should be commended. Behind closed doors, he screwed himself royally. Coaches hate distractions, and that's all this is now. I know some people will use the T'eo situation as a comparable, but T'eo was a better prospect. Sam will most likely be signed as an UDFA. I hope i'm wrong, but it's a realistic prediction.
My take is that the media is going to make more of this than the actual players. The average age in the NFL is what? 26 years old? Most of these guys come from a generation where this isn't a huge deal. The problem for any organization that drafts him is going to be the ridiculous amount of press coverage from espn and other outlets. They will be swarming at mini-camp and training camp and that will be the real distraction--the hundreds of questions that other players will have to answer.
But the average age of the coaches, scouts, and GM's is easily 20 higher. I believe the majority of the negative views will be from this group.
I'm not even convinced that the players will be totally fine with it. Maybe I'm wrong but I have a feeling a lot of these players fall into the "old fashioned man's man" category and that comes with certain pre-built prejudices including being homophobic. Plus you have a lot of players who are very religious and I'm sure many of them feel like it is immoral and a sin as well. Not all, but some. Maybe I'm wrong though, there have been lots of tweets and quotes in the media from different players and coaches and whatnot who are all being very supportive. I'm just not sure if all of that is genuine and if for every positive comment how many are biting their tongue to stop themselves from saying anything that might get them in trouble.
This is not even a discussion in the NBA. The media will be on this until the season begins. Then it will get pushed into the background. I think he'll have to take trash talk from the other line, but I'm sure that's already happened.
Some teams will rate him lower or not take him because they won't want to deal with the issue, but only one team needs to want him for him to be drafted. Every team will evaluate Sam according to their needs and culture, but I have a hard time believing there isn't a single team that would take him.
