And there you have the reasons for him “coming out” before the combine and draft. In the vernacular of the NFL, Sam is a “tweener,” too small to play DT, a bit short for DE and a tad slow for OLB. He was looking like a late-round draft choice, and I imagine there were plenty of NFL GMs willing to take a pass on him—maybe offer a free agent contract.
Now, as the “first openly gay draft prospect,” Sam is almost certain to be drafted, probably in round three. There are plenty of “progressive” front offices in the league who would give him a shot, just for the favorable p.r. And once he’s on a roster, it will be more difficult to get rid of him, and risk being labeled a homphobe—or worst.
As I posted previously on FR, Michael Sam’s career will be much longer that it would/should be, thanks to his emergence from the closet. You might say that Sam “gayed” his way into the NFL, just as Jayson Collins has resurrected his NBA career by coming out.
“There are plenty of “progressive” front offices in the league who would give him a shot”
another words he’ll play ten years with the pittsburgh steelers....