NIT – A college player with high NFL draft prospects announced this weekend that he is gay.
Missouri defensive end Michael Sam told The New York Times and ESPN he is gay, and the 2014 NFL Draft prospect plans to become the first openly gay player in the NFL, the NFL reported.
The NFL seemed to welcome the announcement, saying in a statement “We admire Michael Sam’s honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL. We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014.”
However, questions lingered Monday after one former NFL coach and player – Herm Edwards – said that Sam could divide a locker room. Edwards compared a gay player to “a player that has some issues, off the field issues” who’s “bringing baggage into your locker room.”
“I am an openly, proud gay man,” Sam told ESPN.
“I understand how big this is,” he said. “It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be … I want to be a football player in the NFL.”
Sam, age 24, is a senior at Missouri of the SEC Conference. He is listed as one of the top pass rushers entering the draft, and could be coveted by many teams.
According to a report, Michael Sam’s father had no idea his son was gay until he got a text from him last week.
On Twitter Monday, Sam thanks friends and family for their support, even First Lady Michele Obama.
“I want to thank everybody for their support and encouragement,especially @espn, @nytimes and @nfl. I am proud to tell my story to the world!”
Do you think an openly gay player will be a problem for an NFL team? A locker room distraction, or no big deal?
We support Tigers of all stripes at Mizzou. Proud of you @MikeSamFootball! #OneMizzou http://t.co/ueLCOJ4RFF pic.twitter.com/DvJ2vTIbgU
— Mizzou (@Mizzou) February 10, 2014
I want to thank everybody for their support and encouragement,especially @espn, @nytimes and @nfl. I am proud to tell my story to the world!
— Michael Sam (@MichaelSam52) February 10, 2014
Ohhhhhh,..that’s how you achieved such excellent vocabulary and communications skills LVS. It’s “an” and not “a” BTW(in reference to “a English teacher”). Taps Tip.
You are truely ignorant you dumb A##
I remember the fact that Alice Phillips and Sharon DeSart(both gym teachers) were lovers and lived together…hush, hush and don’t tell anyone though okay? They were gayer than Gay Gayerson even. Nastyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I think he should have just kept his mouth shut, I know I wouldnt want a gay man in the showers with me. thats not any different than a straight guy being in a female locker room.
Remember Miss Philips, the MCHS female gym teacher? LOL
Who was creeeepier? Phillips or SMYTHE??? Those two women were total nightmares. They made school just plain suck.
Philips was as butch as they come. Used to watch all the teen girls
OMG, I remember “Miss” Smythe. Careers Class. She was actually a nice woman but her coffee breath was terrible. She was firm though, and didn’t put up with any crap. We used to tease her voraciously. She got back at me though and made me stay after school doing a whole bunch of extra career work. There was always a really bad smell in that area that gave me nausea. She also clearly had a mustache going on. But I don’t mean to be so petty and judgmental but let’s face it…teenagers are very looks savvy.
We had a teacher like that back in the day too. Her name was Miss Frank. That was before everyone started using Ms. She was a English teacher at Roosevelt Junior High and always drank coffee all day long. The thing with her is she never ever washed or rinsed her cup. The kids hid the cup one time and she cried and I felt so bad for her I found her cup and gave it back to her. She was a little weird but was a excellent teacher. When you came out of her class you could read and understand what you read. She would tolerate nothing less.
Mrs Vogel… we yelled TORNADO and she hid in a closet. I sh*t you not. And the kids were mean to her. They threw the plates and dishes out the second story window at Roosevelt during her home ec classes. First she was nice then she turned mean once she realized the kids were basically little deamons.