Michael Sam, the seventh-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL draft became the first openly gay NFL player last season. Although Sam never touched the field during a regular season NFL game, and has yet to make an active roster, his decision to come out last year before the draft certainly left an imprint.
While Sam’s football skills have been a question mark for many, Sam continues to speak out for gay athletes. In a recent interview he declared once again, that he knows several gay NFL players, some of whom are stars.
I am not the only gay person in the NFL. I’m just saying there is a lot of us. I respect the players that did reach out to me and had the courage to tell me that they were also gay, but they do not have the same courage as I do to come out before I even played a down in the NFL.
Sam also claims that players came out to him in confidence following last year’s draft, and he made it clear that he will continue to respect their anonymity.
“The players who have reached out to me and told me about their sexual orientation, it just means a lot,” Sam said. “But I will never say anything about who they are, what teams they are [on]. I’m just saying there’s some famous people, and I’m not the only one.”
I say this will all due respect, its time for Michael Sam to just play the game of football. These facts are fairly obvious. I think the biggest thing Michael Sam could do for gay NFL players is to be on the field playing.
I also think saying the other players aren’t courageous because they kept their sexual orientation private is a bit arrogant. Michael was brave but it doesn’t make others cowardice if they made the decision to keep the focus on football.
The former University of Missouri defensive end recently took part in the inaugural NFL Veteran Combine, and the reports indicate that Sam didn’t look to great.
Currently Sam is appearing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
