Michael Sam - NFL's first openly gay prospect

[Jocephus]

yeah, just like there are busts in the first round, there are gems in the late rounds. why do you automatically assume that sam is a fringe player because of where he was drafted? piazza was drafted in like the 60th round as a favor.

there's certainly a curve, but you are just dismissing an opportunity for sam because of where he was drafted, even though you know, teams (from all leagues) will find players from all sorts of levels. i mean, trevor rosenthal was scouted here in wichita playing for cowley county community college.

[Socnorb11]

and we've seen him go into the fire for another player (vick) so its not foreign to him. he knows what it takes. he's been through it

What do you mean we've seen him "go into the fire" for Vick? He never had Vick on his team. He said some kind things about Vick..........sure, but he's also said kind things about Michael Sam.

oh come on. fine, you can erase that point from my record. what about the other stuff i posted. the deduction.

he's a homophobe. he has the right to be but he also has the right to hear disappointed people express their views and call him out. as others have said, society determines where we are with acceptance. and right now, society think its a lame ass excuse to say that michael sam and the "distraction" he brings for being gay is not worthy of being drafted (not make the team, of being drafted). and AGAIN, dungy was willing to put his name to vick and say he deserved a chance (reminder, for being federally convicted of dog fighting, in prison for 2 years). And yes, he has said some "nice" things about sam, but he himself would not draft him because of the distraction but he himself (tony) was willing to "go into the fire" of vicks "distraction" and help him along. but he refuses for sam. he outright refuses. it does not make sense logically.

why does tony refuse him outright? distraction? ok, but that doesn't fly with his history.

You act like Tony Dungy created the "distraction" theory with regard to Michael Sam. He clearly did not. Please note that Tony Dungy is not referenced in ANY of these links:

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=Mich ... gws_rd=ssl

It was discussed early in this thread (pre-Dungy) that GM's might consider him a "distraction". You didn't react at all........ you were fine with it. Why? Because those GM's weren't Christians? So that makes it OK. Herm Edwards was described by one of our posters on page 2 of this thread as "old fashioned" because he was afraid of distractions........... but Dungy is a homophobe?

So everyone in America can have concerns about Michael Sam being a "distraction"........ but if Tony Dungy says it, he's a homophobe? Michael Sam chose to be a distraction when he agreed to do a reality TV show. He's free to make that choice, but let's call it what it is.......... a distraction, not homophobia.

[stlouie_lipp]

Holy mother of god, will you guys let this go?

[cardsfansince82]

You keep posting that link to a google search but I'm not sure you read any of the actual links. Most of them are calling the distraction thing a sham. The rest are from guys with 1/1000th the influence and national platform of tony dungy.

[thrill]

I INVENTED AN ENTIRE NEW BRANCH OF RELIGIOUS SABERMETRICS IN THIS THREAD.

If that doesn't win me the thread, I don't know what will.

maybe WAJ, wins above jesus

Jesus would be the Sandy Koufax of advanced religious analytics. Insane peak value, Jewish, career cut short by catastrophic injuries.

[Socnorb11]

You keep posting that link to a google search but I'm not sure you read any of the actual links. Most of them are calling the distraction thing a sham. The rest are from guys with 1/1000th the influence and national platform of tony dungy.

Sure...... there are views both ways. The second link that comes up is from ABC News, talking about how he will likely drop in the draft because of "distractions", which is exactly the theory that Dungy had.

My point is that Dungy didn't invent this controversy, and he's not alone in his views. Again, Herm Edwards talked about the "baggage", and whether teams would want that in a link posted back on Page 1 of this thread. Nobody was outraged about that. One of his teammates with the Rams is worried about him being a distraction......... none of you care.

[Socnorb11]

By the way, this was MY reaction back on Page 1:

but I'm also pretty impressed that he told the whole team before the season even started (and apparently tons of them knew already) and it seems to have never been an issue.

Yeah, that should kill the whole "too much of a distraction" crap. It never got out of the locker room and the team had one of its best seasons ever with him as a leader.

++++

Hats of to him and his teammates. This is how it should work.

[Jocephus]

and we've seen him go into the fire for another player (vick) so its not foreign to him. he knows what it takes. he's been through it

What do you mean we've seen him "go into the fire" for Vick? He never had Vick on his team. He said some kind things about Vick..........sure, but he's also said kind things about Michael Sam.

oh come on. fine, you can erase that point from my record. what about the other stuff i posted. the deduction.

he's a homophobe. he has the right to be but he also has the right to hear disappointed people express their views and call him out. as others have said, society determines where we are with acceptance. and right now, society think its a lame ass excuse to say that michael sam and the "distraction" he brings for being gay is not worthy of being drafted (not make the team, of being drafted). and AGAIN, dungy was willing to put his name to vick and say he deserved a chance (reminder, for being federally convicted of dog fighting, in prison for 2 years). And yes, he has said some "nice" things about sam, but he himself would not draft him because of the distraction but he himself (tony) was willing to "go into the fire" of vicks "distraction" and help him along. but he refuses for sam. he outright refuses. it does not make sense logically.

why does tony refuse him outright? distraction? ok, but that doesn't fly with his history.

You act like Tony Dungy created the "distraction" theory with regard to Michael Sam. He clearly did not. Please note that Tony Dungy is not referenced in ANY of these links:

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=Mich ... gws_rd=ssl

It was discussed early in this thread (pre-Dungy) that GM's might consider him a "distraction". You didn't react at all........ you were fine with it. Why? Because those GM's weren't Christians? So that makes it OK. Herm Edwards was described by one of our posters on page 2 of this thread as "old fashioned" because he was afraid of distractions........... but Dungy is a homophobe?

So everyone in America can have concerns about Michael Sam being a "distraction"........ but if Tony Dungy says it, he's a homophobe? Michael Sam chose to be a distraction when he agreed to do a reality TV show. He's free to make that choice, but let's call it what it is.......... a distraction, not homophobia.

again, your logic is astounding...because i didn't write earlier in the thread that means i cant comment? or that i had no opinion? i did the best i could to search this thread for my comments (i hate grb search) and i dont think they start until dungy made his stupid comment.

and yea, your google link offers nothing. i also dont think that "everyone in america can have concerns about michael sam being a "distraction"" because i dont think thats an accurate statement. you just pulled that out of your ass. sure, some writers have may written that but that doesn't mean anything. dungy thinks it will be (and he's a well respected coach and paid analyst), you agree with dungy, so theres a few people who may have concerns. but not everyone. not even close.

you posted this to taut denver, i assume:

Broncos GM John Elway's position:

"I applaud Michael Sam and wish him the very best as he continues the pursuit of his NFL dream," Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway said Monday. "As we look toward the combine and draft, we will evaluate Michael just like any other draft prospect — on the basis of his ability, character and NFL potential. His announcement will have no effect on how we see him as a football player."

"Having spent 16 years in an NFL locker room, the bottom line is that it’s about treating others with respect and earning that respect," Elway said. "By all indications, it appears Michael has done just that throughout his football career.”

elway doesn't seem to think of it as a distraction (and i think he's christian). granted, maybe denver doesn't need a DE but he didn't even bring up the possibility of a distraction. i'm sure you will say something to the effect of "you believe that?"...well, then WHAT IS THE REASON. IS IT LACK OF SKILL OR THE "DISTRACTION" BECAUSE HE'S GAY. are these tough football guys so much of pussies they can't tell the truth?

you also questioned the motives of this student when i posted this:

Derrick Gordon, a sophomore starter for the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team, stepped forward Wednesday as the first openly gay player in Division I men's college basketball, sharing his story with ESPN and Outsports.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... ion-player

Maybe this is a completely dumb question, but why? What is the goal here?

dungy can definitely say what he said. i feel no obligation for him to apologize. but he's gonna get reamed for it, as he should. and, like so many times before, this goes back to the point that he chooses to worship (and interpret) a god that allows one to be discriminatory to homosexuals. do you deny that he has a history as a evengelical christian? why am i not allowed to use that to determine he's a homophobe. its part of who he is, how he identifies himself (not as a homophobe, but as a evangelical, who have a long history of bigotry towards homosexuals).

how about this? dungy should go on tv and say "teams, give him a chance". he did that for vick.

[Jocephus]

By the way, this was MY reaction back on Page 1:

but I'm also pretty impressed that he told the whole team before the season even started (and apparently tons of them knew already) and it seems to have never been an issue.

Yeah, that should kill the whole "too much of a distraction" crap. It never got out of the locker room and the team had one of its best seasons ever with him as a leader.

++++

Hats of to him and his teammates. This is how it should work.

phew, you're clear.

[Socnorb11]

Dungy HAS said that Michael Sam should get a chance.

There is a difference between being opposed to the gay lifestyle, and being a "homophobe".

Apparently these folks are homophobes, too:

http://thebiglead.com/2014/02/10/michae ... overnight/