First Openly Gay Player Drafted to NFL

Amaury · May 11, 2014

I'm glad he got picked. This guy definitely has my respect.

Michael Sam: NFL's First Openly Gay Draft Pick

Source: Chicago Tribune

Published: May 10, 2014

Chicago Tribune said:

Defensive end Michael Sam of the University of Missouri became the first openly gay player to be selected in a National Football League Draft when he was taken in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday.

Sam, the 2013 defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference, came out as gay to his teammates before last season. He disclosed his sexual orientation in media interviews earlier this year. At the NFL scouting combine in February he drew the largest media contingent that anyone there could recall.

Before the first round Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in an ESPN interview that he was pulling for Sam to be selected at some point in the three-day draft.

"We like to say the NFL is the ultimate meritocracy," Goodell said. "I have great respect for Michael, his courage, his decision to come public, and I'm optimistic he can get that opportunity, and hopefully he can play at this level."

The defensive end was taken on the 249th pick of the last round of the three-day draft at Radio City Music Hall.

Television cameras captured Sam receiving the phone call informing him of his selection and the Texan broke into tears, shaking with joy at the news.

"Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I'm using every ounce of this to achieve greatness!!" He posted on his Twitter account.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher told the NFL Network: "I'm excited about our draft and excited about the possibility of adding him to our defensive front.

"After doing the studies, he's a good football player," Fisher said about the pick.

The NFL (@nfl) tweeted: "Welcome to the NFL, @MikeSamFootball."

Sam led the conference in sacks and in tackles for a loss, but waited until seven picks before the end of the draft to hear his name called after his stock fell following mediocre results at February's scouting combine.

Sam would become the second openly gay player in one of North America's four major professional team sports following basketball's Jason Collins, who joined the NBA's Brooklyn Nets this season.

Collins, who sent a congratulatory text to Sam when he was selected, told ESPN: “I think it’s great. I’m looking forward to seeing him progress throughout his career.… I think it’s a great day for the NFL, and for Michael and his family."

Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League also have not yet had an openly gay player on the field.

Sam was generally regarded by NFL evaluators as a tweener, someone too small to be an effective defensive end, and too slow to drop into pass coverage -- at least at an elite level. He was widely projected to be a late-round draft pick or free agent, despite his impressive credentials.

Sam granted almost no media interviews in the days before the draft, and he watched Rounds 4-7 on Saturday in San Diego with friends, family and his agent. There was a TV camera capturing the scene when Sam was selected. Like many players before him, Sam cried as he got the news over the phone.

Rams coach Fisher said he was unconcerned about an anticipated media crush to cover Sam at training camp or about any problems within the clubhouse over welcoming in the gay player.

"I don't have any concern whatsoever," said Fisher. "We drafted a good football player. I'm excited to get him on the practice field and get him going.

"There's going to be a little extra attention for a couple of days but Michael was the co-SEC defensive player of the year. We're looking forward to this opportunity."We have a young team, (but) a very mature team. We're not going to let any kind of distractions affect this football team."
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Ars Nova · May 11, 2014

Good for him. c: If he can play the game he deserves a shot.

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First Openly Gay Player Drafted to NFL

Amaury Chaser

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Ars Nova Just a ghost.

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