Michael Sam, who led the SEC in sacks last season (11.5), made history as he became the first openly gay African American professional sports player. History was made as he was finally drafted 249th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft in New York City.
There were plenty of reports for days that he would go undrafted, but little did they know that Saint Louis Rams front office and head coach, Jeff Fisher had other things in mind. What was the reason that people though Sam would not get drafted? It wasn’t that he was a bad player. It wasn’t the fact that he was always in trouble off of the field or the fact that he had an issue with smoking marijuana, etc. It was the fact that he was gay.
For the life of me, I cannot understand how a young, athletic and talented man who led the tough-as-nails SEC in sacks last season with 10.5. At six foot five and 255 pounds, the Texas native was Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and had 18 tackles that resulted in a loss of yardage. As a sophomore, Sam finished with 29 tackles, three of those were for a loss of yardage, along with 1.5 sacks. Sam has explosive talent on defense and has been known to play deep into the trenches as he overpowers his opponent. He can easily be compared to the likes of Elvis Dumervil of the AFC North Baltimore Ravens.
With a list of accolades that include being named Defensive Player of the Year at the ESPY Awards on July 16, Sam was named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.
It is in my belief that plenty of teams that needed him, passed on him because they did not want to deal with the pressure of drafting the NFL’s first African American gay male. Pressure from the press, pressure from fans who did not agree with the lifestyle of the football player, etc. There could be a plethora of reasons as to why some teams did not want to draft the player who should have been gone at least by the third or fourth round.
I believe that Sam being drafted by the Rams is something very special and breaks down social barriers within the league…and even the country. One should not be concerned about the sexuality of the player, what one should be concerned about is his ability to play on the field. That is all that should matter. Can he tackle? Can he break through the offensive line and get to the QB? Can he lead the defense? Etc.
It amazes me how the general football fan can accept a draft prospect who has had failed drug tests, 12 children with six women, and led the SEC with receiving yards and touchdowns versus a man who just happens to be gay. Society is backwards and so are the minds of people who are worried about something that has nothing to do with them. The man’s performance on the field is something you should be worried about, not what he is doing in his bedroom.
Congratulate him because he is brave! Congratulate him because he isn’t hiding! Congratulate him because he broke down social barriers!
The African American community should understand more for the simple fact that not too long ago, we were denied our Civil Rights for something that we could not control: The color of our skin.
Gay, straight, black, white, we are all the same!
Congratulations Michael Sam on your success!!!
I thought he would be drafted 4th or 5th rd. Minus the media circus the kid deserves a shot no matter what his background is. he has the tape to prove it.