Licht: Sam is not the first gay player

buccaneer4ever · 2014-02-23T15:55:57Z

By Kent SomersSat Feb 22, 2014 8:54 PMINDIANAPOLIS - If the Cardinals drafted Missouri linebacker Michael Sam, coach Bruce Arians would have no worries about how the NFL’s first openly gay player would be treated by teammates and coaches.He and a handful of NFL general managers said they have coached, worked or played with gay players before, just not one who has come out publicly. They were accepted by players and coaches without problem.“He’s not the first,” said Tampa Bay General Manager Jason Licht, “not the first NFL, not the first college. In my experience, it’s been kind of a moot issue. I’ve been lucky to be in organizations with strong locker rooms, strong staffs, a strong coach, where it hasn’t been an issue.”That was echoed by several other coaches, including Arians.But what concerns the Cardinals coach is how opposing fans might treat Sam.“None of that matters in the locker room,” Arians said. “Every locker room I’ve been in, it’s been all about winning. If you had a hand in us winning, and you were different, guys accepted it.“Fans? That’s a very different story. I’ve walked into stadiums where gentlemen are teaching their sons how to moon the bus and moms are teaching their daughters what their middle fingers are for, and it’s not a ring. That scares me more, what’s going to be said from the stands. The locker room won’t be a problem.”Sam’s teammates and coaches at Missouri knew he was gay, and it was no big deal to them. Fearing that others might “out” him, Sam took control of his story, telling the New York Times and ESPN last week that he was gay.So reporters were spread wide and deep around the podium when Sam spoke on Saturday at the scouting combine.In his allotted 15 minutes, Sam displayed a sense of humor, humility and perspective that would serve any pro prospect well, gay or not“Well, heck yeah, I wish you guys would just say, ‘Michael Sam, how’s football going? How’s training going?’ ” Sam said. “But it is what it is. And I just wish you guys would just see me as Michael Sam the football player instead of Michael Sam the gay football player.”That’s not possible because of Sam’s decision to reveal his sexual orientation, but he seems prepared for the inevitable media storm/circus that will visit the team that drafts him.At the combine, no team official has asked Sam about being gay, which would violate NFL policy.But the focus on Sam, the football player, also fits with comments made a couple of days ago by Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim.“This is a big issue across the country, and you might think GMs would be talking to each other and it would be a big topic. And it’s actually not,” Keim said. “I haven’t had one conversation with a GM or other personnel guy about the situation.“I just want to see how he moves on the field, what he runs and what kind of player he is on tape.”Sam doesn’t anticipate problems with teammates. Men in any locker room tease and insult each other.But coexisting in that atmosphere means recognizing when lines are crossed. That apparently didn’t happen in Miami with the bullying scandal involving offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito.“If someone wants to call me a name, I’ll have a conversation with that guy and hopefully it won’t lead to nothing else,” Sam said. “I’ve been in locker rooms where all kinds of slurs have been said, and I don’t think anyone means it. But as time goes on everyone will adapt.”As time goes on, it’s possible Sam will be asked more about his football ability than his sexual orientation. For now, he’s comfortable with the personal questions, and he handled Saturday’s press conference with aplomb.“A trailblazer?” he replied to a question. “I feel like I’m Michael Sam.”Link:

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Cabin Boy Guest

Enough of the gay players, who cares. He's a football player, a mediocre one at that.

Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 6:46 pm

Anonymous

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Jeff Garcia is gay. His model wife is just that. A model. Comments like this are part of the problem today. This person comes on this board and makes a comment like this with nothing to back it. Jeff Garcia has been married for years and even has children with his wife, yet this person says he is gay. This is why so few come out when they are gay. It is going to be seen as a bad thing and make them a target for comments such as this.

Not backing SWAGGARRR at all but being married for years with children means nothing. I know someone that was married for 40 yrs before he decided to come out of the closet.

Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 7:24 pm

Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Not the 1st indeed.... Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 8:53 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Er.... BREAKING NEWS? Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 9:57 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Not the 1st indeed.... Lol Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 10:02 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Jeff Garcia is gay. His model wife is just that. A model. Comments like this are part of the problem today. This person comes on this board and makes a comment like this with nothing to back it. Jeff Garcia has been married for years and even has children with his wife, yet this person says he is gay. This is why so few come out when they are gay. It is going to be seen as a bad thing and make them a target for comments such as this. Not backing SWAGGARRR at all but being married for years with children means nothing. I know someone that was married for 40 yrs before he decided to come out of the closet. Hate, I understand this possible. It should not be commented as fact prior. Are we going to classify every soft-spoken man as gay? Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 11:23 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Are we going to classify every soft-spoken man as gay? I'll let SWAGGARRR answer that question since he's the one that implied it. Maybe its the lisp, lol. Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 11:28 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Jeff Garcia is gay. His model wife is just that. A model. Comments like this are part of the problem today. This person comes on this board and makes a comment like this with nothing to back it. Jeff Garcia has been married for years and even has children with his wife, yet this person says he is gay. This is why so few come out when they are gay. It is going to be seen as a bad thing and make them a target for comments such as this. Not backing SWAGGARRR at all but being married for years with children means nothing. I know someone that was married for 40 yrs before he decided to come out of the closet. damn Posted : Feb. 23, 2014 11:31 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Are we going to classify every soft-spoken man as gay? I'll let SWAGGARRR answer that question since he's the one that implied it. Maybe its the lisp, lol. OMG, it would mean he thinks Michael Strahan and Mike Tyson are gay. How about guys without a lisp who say they are gay? :P Posted : Feb. 24, 2014 12:03 am Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest Are we going to classify every soft-spoken man as gay? I'll let SWAGGARRR answer that question since he's the one that implied it. Maybe its the lisp, lol. OMG, it would mean he thinks Michael Strahan and Mike Tyson are gay. How about guys without a lisp who say they are gay? :P I've heard rumors about Strahan being gay. #WaitingOnAdamSchefterToConfirm Posted : Feb. 24, 2014 2:50 am Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest BTW - Whitney Houston was gay. Her relationships were fake. Except for Bobby Brown, I think. But the media and her fans wouldn't accept her if she came out.#GarciaHasWhitneyHoustonSyndrome Posted : Feb. 24, 2014 2:54 am

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Licht: Sam is not the first gay player

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