Posted on 05/11/2014 7:19:37 PM PDT by FlJoePa
Former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam became the first openly gay player in NFL history to be drafted when the Rams took him with the 249th pick on Saturday, but Sam almost didn't make history because he almost fell out of the draft.
Sam was taken with the eighth-to-last pick, meaning he almost wasn't drafted at all, something he found rather shocking. The NFL's first openly gay player said he should've been picked higher.
"From last season alone, I should've been in the first three rounds -- SEC Defensive player of the year, All-American," Sam said, listing off his 2013 accomplishments, via the Rams official website. "I should have gone in the top three rounds easily."
Instead of going in the first three rounds though, Sam almost didn't go in any round. So what would have happened if Sam wasn't drafted?
According to NFL Network, the Bears, Giants and Ravens were all interested in signing Sam if he hadn't been taken by St. Louis. The Rams also would have tried to sign Sam if they hadn't grabbed him with the 249th pick.
Bears coach Marc Trestman said on Saturday that Sam would have been a defensive end in Chicago, not a linebacker, "When someone has that number of sacks, you have to pay attention to that," Trestman said of the Bears' interest in Sam, via the Chicago Sun-Times.
As it is though, Sam is with the Rams, and he's happy about that. "The Rams know what the hell they're doing."
And what the Rams did was draft Sam, which you can watch below.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbssports.com ...
To be honest players should be able to sue for sexual harassment. They are after-all being forced to undress and shower in front of someone who finds them sexually attractive. What difference does it make if it is a man or a women?
The Rams are thinking, “Oh S—t, what did we just do?”
The old LA Rams were a good team. Times have changed. We will see.
Whiners increase team morale and team unity, especially in football where players work as a unit.
Donchaknow?
He’s not good enough to play in the NFL. Every objective analysis of his skills has been done by scouts, talent evaluators, and people in the know in the NFL. They all say he’s a longshot to make a roster. If he were just any other player he probably would have gone undrafted and I guarantee that Coach Trestman wouldn’t of given him such glowing praise. Nobody in the NFL wants to have the gay mafia after them so of course they’ll be careful in their choice of words. We’ll see in August but when it becomes obvious that this guy is not NFL caliber I hope Coach Jeff Fisher will do what’s right for his team and not cave in to outside influences.
Jeff Fisher seems to be a good sort; some people don’t have a grasp of public relations or PR fallout. That latter part might apply to Fisher. He seems like a no-nonsense type. Maybe Fisher will handle all this alright but you make a good observation.
He has given a new meaning to the “Rams” team name. I wonder if they should change the image on their helms?
I wonder if the NFL promised the Rams some kind of compensatory pick if they got him?
You just trashed the whole thread. And my dinner. Nice job.
Every team in the league is well aware of what a blackmail nightmare it would be if Sams didn't get drafted.
Prolly has a room stuffed with all the participation ribbons he was given over the years.
Then again, he just might ride the affirmative action wave the rest of his life, like 0bama.
The crucial year will be 2016, when 0bama leaves office.
One of those fast NFL pulling guards could clean Sam’s clock real good. Don’t see how he makes the team since his attitude sucks.
Not if his knees get taken out.
I predict that is how his short NFL career will end.
By injury. Every player in the NFL will gunning for him.
Even his own teammates.
They will tote him off on a stretcher.
Rams want to move back to LA. There’s your quid pro quo.
I suspect the Rams will win a lot of games next season, they’ll be real good at coming from behind.
I think a lot of teams passed him over because they don’t need the circus atmosphere that will inevitably surround the Rams training camp. Nor do most teams want to listen to O-Blamer and his chattering chimps in the press whine, complain and make anti-homophobic pronouncements on the team that cuts him when it turns out that he’s just not that good.
He wants the weight room painted pink and floral print curtains hung in his locker...oh, and the Rams logo replaced with lambs...NOW!
Shaving cream or a frosted cake but it looks raunchy. Seems like he’s on a crusade and that picture isn’t suitable for all audiences.
Sheesh, was that necessary?!
This is just the beginning.
Sam will whine that he is not being compensated enough or getting enough plays.
Sam will continue to play the gay victim card to get what he wants.
The Rams are screwed, but probably had no choice in picking him. Maybe I shouldn’t give the team an out.
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