2014 NFL Draft Thread

[Formerly Snayke]

At some point, an openly gay player is going to be an integral part of a team -- we're really just talking about when, not if. If not Sam, then eventually it will be someone else.

 

Some might say Aaron Rodgers is already an integral part of the Packers.

[jersey cubs fan]

Just win [expletive] football games. Everything else is just peripheral drama.

 

He starts making big plays on Sunday, and fans will cheer for him just like any other player.

 

At some point, an openly gay player is going to be an integral part of a team -- we're really just talking about when, not if. If not Sam, then eventually it will be someone else.

 

It's probably not the fans of his team that we have to be concerned about. (although baseball's best fans will have a lot to say if the Rams take him). The fans of the opponents are going to be harsh.

[Tracer Bullet]

a team significantly overachieving expectations after one of its leaders comes out of the closet doesn't blow a hole in the idea that a gay player is going to ruin the team's chemistry?

 

I don't know that anyone really thinks he'll ruin a team's chemistry, though it'll certainly make certain NFL players uncomfortable (some have said as much, usually anonymously). But Missouri's success with Sam doesn't really blow a hole in any idea of how an NFL team will handle it.

[Guest]

Is Sam a top talent, I have no idea that's why I'm asking.

 

The narcissism level of people are off the charts here. What makes people think he'll be making passes at every dick he sees in the locker room? And why are some men so insecure about their sexuality? I've been hit on by men before (a long time ago) and I always took it as a compliment. I also love the bigots saying, "who cares". I guess it's better than sighting scripture.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is Sam a top talent, I have no idea that's why I'm asking.

 

No.

[imb]

The narcissism level of people are off the charts here. What makes people think he'll be making passes at every dick he sees in the locker room? And why are some men so insecure about their sexuality?

 

they're terrified that he's going to objectify them like they objectify every woman they meet

[TruffleShuffle]

a team significantly overachieving expectations after one of its leaders comes out of the closet doesn't blow a hole in the idea that a gay player is going to ruin the team's chemistry?

 

I don't know that anyone really thinks he'll ruin a team's chemistry, though it'll certainly make certain NFL players uncomfortable (some have said as much, usually anonymously). But Missouri's success with Sam doesn't really blow a hole in any idea of how an NFL team will handle it.

 

i dunno, some of the argument is that the media attention will cause problems, but a lot of people think that the locker room will just fall apart because other football players can't handle being around a gay.

[Tracer Bullet]

a team significantly overachieving expectations after one of its leaders comes out of the closet doesn't blow a hole in the idea that a gay player is going to ruin the team's chemistry?

 

I don't know that anyone really thinks he'll ruin a team's chemistry, though it'll certainly make certain NFL players uncomfortable (some have said as much, usually anonymously). But Missouri's success with Sam doesn't really blow a hole in any idea of how an NFL team will handle it.

 

i dunno, some of the argument is that the media attention will cause problems, but a lot of people think that the locker room will just fall apart because other football players can't handle being around a gay.

 

Sure, but how it's handled at Missouri (with one of the best players on the team) doesn't necessarily tell us much of anything about how it would be handled in an NFL locker room. I'm assuming for some teams it'd be basically a non-issue. I don't think that's the case for all teams though.

[mul21]

I think the dynamic of him being on an NFL team will be different than at Mizzou simply because the rest of the team had already established a relationship with him before he came out, even though many of them were probably aware of it before he made it official. He was an established team leader prior to coming out and will have to establish both his ability to be on an NFL field and his ability to be a teammate at the same time. It could be tough for him, especially with the uber religious crowd in the NFL. It shouldn't be an issue, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if 1 or 2 idiots on whatever team he ends up on can't handle it.

[Soul]

I think the dynamic of him being on an NFL team will be different than at Mizzou simply because the rest of the team had already established a relationship with him before he came out, even though many of them were probably aware of it before he made it official. He was an established team leader prior to coming out and will have to establish both his ability to be on an NFL field and his ability to be a teammate at the same time. It could be tough for him, especially with the uber religious crowd in the NFL. It shouldn't be an issue, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if 1 or 2 idiots on whatever team he ends up on can't handle it.

 

Pretty good point, IMO.

 

I'm hoping the extent of this is some media-driven copy during training camp, which fades once the games start. Hard to guarantee that, though.

[imb]

if you're an agent of a player on whatever team drafts sam, aren't you calling your guy every day and being like "COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF HIM, BE VOCAL ABOUT THIS." Imagine all the positive press you could get. I really think there's enough pressure on these guys at this point that most of the ones that do have a problem with Sam will have been coached at this point to keep it down.

[jersey cubs fan]

if you're an agent of a player on whatever team drafts sam, aren't you calling your guy every day and being like "COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF HIM, BE VOCAL ABOUT THIS." Imagine all the positive press you could get. I really think there's enough pressure on these guys at this point that most of the ones that do have a problem with Sam will have been coached at this point to keep it down.

What's that positive press worth? How much have ayanbendejo and kluwe made off their support?

 

I could see an agent reminding his guy to not say anything dumb, but simply being the guy who vocally supported the gay player probably is not actually worth much (from a non human decency standpoint) unless he plans to run for office as a democrat.

[Cubswin11]

This isn't an Onion article quote...

 

Michael Sam Sr. told The New York Times that he received the news last Tuesday when his son wrote in a text: "Dad, I'm gay."

 

Sam's father took the news hard. He said he was eating at a Denny's restaurant but had to leave after receiving the text.

 

"I couldn't eat no more, so I went to Applebee's to have drinks," Sam Sr. told the newspaper. "I don't want my grandkids raised in that kind of environment."

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10439397/father-michael-sam-struggling-news-son-gay

[imb]

if you're an agent of a player on whatever team drafts sam, aren't you calling your guy every day and being like "COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF HIM, BE VOCAL ABOUT THIS." Imagine all the positive press you could get. I really think there's enough pressure on these guys at this point that most of the ones that do have a problem with Sam will have been coached at this point to keep it down.

What's that positive press worth? How much have ayanbendejo and kluwe made off their support?

 

I could see an agent reminding his guy to not say anything dumb, but simply being the guy who vocally supported the gay player probably is not actually worth much (from a non human decency standpoint) unless he plans to run for office as a democrat.

 

i think it's one thing for a punter to be like "GAYS ARE OK GUYS" but now that there's a specific person who people are wondering how he'll fit into a locker room, i would think being the guy on defense that's first to come out fully in support would get your ass on TV for a week or so.

[rawaction]

if you're an agent of a player on whatever team drafts sam, aren't you calling your guy every day and being like "COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF HIM, BE VOCAL ABOUT THIS." Imagine all the positive press you could get. I really think there's enough pressure on these guys at this point that most of the ones that do have a problem with Sam will have been coached at this point to keep it down.

What's that positive press worth? How much have ayanbendejo and kluwe made off their support?

 

I could see an agent reminding his guy to not say anything dumb, but simply being the guy who vocally supported the gay player probably is not actually worth much (from a non human decency standpoint) unless he plans to run for office as a democrat.

 

i think it's one thing for a punter to be like "GAYS ARE OK GUYS" but now that there's a specific person who people are wondering how he'll fit into a locker room, i would think being the guy on defense that's first to come out fully in support would get your ass on TV for a week or so.

 

I think it depends on the situation like you said. A punter or reserve LB/special teamer showing support doesn't do much. But a lockerroom leader that plays and practices with Sam could benefit a lot from showing support. Granted, it would probably take an already well known player, but the supporting player could be the Pee Wee Reese to Sam's Jackie Robinson.

[Guest]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

[rawaction]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

I think Barr is more likely to be a Clay Matthews type of player.

[Guest]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

I think Barr is more likely to be a Clay Matthews type of player.

 

Yep, both have far less diverse skill sets than Mack. I do think Barr is more athletic and better in coverage than Matthews.

[rawaction]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

I think Barr is more likely to be a Clay Matthews type of player.

 

Yep, both have far less diverse skill sets than Mack. I do think Barr is more athletic and better in coverage than Matthews.

 

There are whispers that Barr could drop on draft day. Biggest issue seems to be 1-trick pony (like Matthews was coming out, but improved) and the possibility that he doesn't completely dominate all drills at the combine. What are your thoughts on drafting him at 14?

 

I've thought he'd be a guy I'd throw away my draft board for and find a place to fit in the defense. But now not so sure. Interested to get your thoughts as a UCLA guy.

[Soul]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

The Manziel = Romo comparison seems way off to me. I don't think of those two as anything like each other.

[Flames24Rulz]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

The Manziel = Romo comparison seems way off to me. I don't think of those two as anything like each other.

 

Really? I actually think that's a pretty good comparison for Manziel.

[Pushfrog98]

Dallas' Dale Hansen re: Michael Sam.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olc5C4SXAYM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[NOLA]

Dallas' Dale Hansen re: Michael Sam.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olc5C4SXAYM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

That was awesome. Especially so since this a Texas station, where that sort of thing will get more than the usual blowback.

[Soul]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

The Manziel = Romo comparison seems way off to me. I don't think of those two as anything like each other.

 

Really? I actually think that's a pretty good comparison for Manziel.

 

Yeah. The big difference that sticks out to me is the running ability. I felt like Garcia was a better comparison - which he touched on, but discarded.

[Splendid Splinter]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325312/article/johnny-manziel-the-next-tony-romo-matching-prospects-pros

 

Interesting player comps. Mack to Matthews is interesting but I think Mack brings a more diverse skill set to the table.

 

The Manziel = Romo comparison seems way off to me. I don't think of those two as anything like each other.

 

Really? I actually think that's a pretty good comparison for Manziel.

 

Yeah. The big difference that sticks out to me is the running ability. I felt like Garcia was a better comparison - which he touched on, but discarded.

 

I've always thought McNabb when he was drafted is a good comparsion to Manziel. McNabb was 223 at the Combine IIRC.