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

[outofplace]

So because Dwight Freeney exists, talk of Sam being "undersized" deserves mockery?

No.

You said to list the starting DEs in the NFL who are 6-2.

Just having some fun. Sam isn't even a DE in the NFL, as we both know.

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.

 

[Boom_70]

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

 

[IllMil]

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.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Fair enough. So, what specifically makes Sam a viable-enough player to justify a first-round pick?

And, don't say "because college awards."

This whole thing, honestly, stems from people believing he won't get a chance. He WILL. He WILL get drafted by someone and the same opportunity to succeed as other similar straight players.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

1) What the heck are you talking about?

2) Where in heck did I say that?

Sorry, I think I'm confusing people's arguments. Someone posted the last several SEC Defensive POYs, most of whom went in the first round.

I'll rephrase: Is it your contention that people will pass on Sam because he's gay, or because he may not be very good? Is it possible to be gay and mediocre at the same time?

Mike Mamula was every bit the college player Sam is. In hindsight, he should've been a fifth-round pick, gay or straight. If Sam has a combine like Mamula did, who's to say he won't shoot right back up the board?

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.

 

[LongTimeListener]

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

 

[Stoney]

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

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.

 

[JC]

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

They should have accepted shirtty quarterback as the reason.

 

[Boom_70]

Fair enough. So, what specifically makes Sam a viable-enough player to justify a first-round pick?

And, don't say "because college awards."

This whole thing, honestly, stems from people believing he won't get a chance. He WILL. He WILL get drafted by someone and the same opportunity to succeed as other similar straight players.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

1) What the heck are you talking about?

2) Where in heck did I say that?

Sorry, I think I'm confusing people's arguments. Someone posted the last several SEC Defensive POYs, most of whom went in the first round.

I'll rephrase: Is it your contention that people will pass on Sam because he's gay, or because he may not be very good? Is it possible to be gay and mediocre at the same time?

Mike Mamula was every bit the college player Sam is. In hindsight, he should've been a fifth-round pick, gay or straight. If Sam has a combine like Mamula did, who's to say he won't shoot right back up the board?

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.

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

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Fair enough. So, what specifically makes Sam a viable-enough player to justify a first-round pick?

And, don't say "because college awards."

This whole thing, honestly, stems from people believing he won't get a chance. He WILL. He WILL get drafted by someone and the same opportunity to succeed as other similar straight players.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

1) What the heck are you talking about?

2) Where in heck did I say that?

Sorry, I think I'm confusing people's arguments. Someone posted the last several SEC Defensive POYs, most of whom went in the first round.

I'll rephrase: Is it your contention that people will pass on Sam because he's gay, or because he may not be very good? Is it possible to be gay and mediocre at the same time?

Mike Mamula was every bit the college player Sam is. In hindsight, he should've been a fifth-round pick, gay or straight. If Sam has a combine like Mamula did, who's to say he won't shoot right back up the board?

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 ...

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Pat White was another.

 

[Boom_70]

Pat White was another.

Leon Sandcastle is another.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

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

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...