Michael Sam Says He Is Gay; May Become First Publicly Gay Player in N.F.L.

I've heard a few people already insisting that he will have to make it at defensive end because they don't think he can make the transition to outside linebacker. They don't like how he has looked in space, particularly during Senior Bowl workouts.

If that turns out to be the case, given his size, he could easily fall to the sixth or seventh round based on football skill alone. The drills at the combine will help some in that evaluation, but the bottom line is he is either too small for his position or he is a projection, and that does lower his value.

 

Many accepted "distraction" as a valid reason for not drafting Tebow.

 

Tebow is out of the league because he sucks and not for any other reason.

 

That could happen.

But yes, without the gay issue -- the "distraction" as everyone wants to put it, because of course no NFL executives are bigots, they are just worried about the feelings of all the other bigots who work for them -- Sam would be a lock to be drafted. The college profile is a strong indicator. The fact that he is a pass rusher is another. That's the most valuable and rarest thing to find, and teams fall over themselves to get those guys. Every team has that kind of passing-down specialist who doesn't get a lot of national play but who, if you're a fan of the team, you're well aware of and glad he's on the team.

If nobody deems him worthy of a draft pick, it just doesn't pass the smell test. In the current NFL environment, it would be hopelessly naive to think otherwise.

Now, if he completely tanks at the combine, that's another matter. But even Te'o had a bad combine and still went in the second round. And he was supposed to be a distraction too.

 

We will see, Creosote, but a few of those anonymous asshats sounded pretty convinced of it with Peter King.

 

Umm, Tebow was taken in the first round, much higher than he was generally being projected, and much higher than he should've gone based on his abilities.

Nobody passed on Tebow because of the distraction factor. If anything, I suspect his notoriety may've helped him get drafted undeservedly high.

 

They should have accepted shitty quarterback as the reason.

 

If his 4.7 at Senior Bowl is accurate he won't be doing a lot of pass rushing
as a small DE

Feeney was a 4.48

 

There's a reason why we all still remember the name Mike Mamula. Something like that happens every 10-15 years...

There have been guys who have helped themselves immensely at the combine. Matt Jones jumps to mind. I'm sure there are others ...

 

Pat White was another.

 

Leon Sandcastle is another.

 

I would bet half the teams have him completely off their board.

It only takes one team to draft him and I tend to think someone will, but I would not be surprised at all if he's still on the board in the sixth or seventh round. Maybe at that point he'll be too much to pass on...