Story Highlights
Michael Sam speaks to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine
It was recently released; Could Become First Openly Gay NFL Player
Missouri star says he’d rather talk about football, ‘but that’s what it is’
Regarding homosexual insults, he predicts, over time, “everyone will adapt”
CNN
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There’s Michael Sam, the footballer. And Michael Sam, the man who could soon become the first openly gay player in the National Football League.
Speaking at the NFL Combine on Saturday, the University of Missouri star defensive end said he wants reporters to think of him in previous terms and ask him about plans, his performance and his potential.
“But,” Sam conceded, “that’s how it is.”
And so Sam patiently answered question after question that, directly or indirectly, related to his sexuality and topics like gay slurs, bullying and more.
The American defensive lineman from the University of Missouri publicly revealed that he is gay in an interview with ESPN broadcast on February 9. The revelation sparked a flurry of discussion and debate about whether professional football players would accept a gay teammate and whether Sam’s announcement could hurt his chances of being drafted and ultimately being part of a team.
“I understand how important this is,” Sam said then. “It’s a big deal. Nobody has done this before. And it’s a pretty nervous process, but I know what I want to be…I want to be a football player in the NFL.
The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis provides an opportunity for Sam, like any other prospect, to be evaluated and answer questions from representatives of the league’s 32 clubs. Although it started as a behind-the-scenes affair, the grouping has grown into a big event that is even widely broadcast for millions of fans to follow.
Dealing with the media is part of this process.
In his opening comments, Sam – who has since spoken to numerous other media outlets outside of ESPN – said lightly that he “showed you enough the last two weeks.” But I’m learning from the media that you want more.
Then the questions came, like what he thought about the gay slurs that were being circulated among his teammates.
Sam responded that he had “been in the locker room with all kinds of insults” but did not take it personally, thinking that players using such language were probably “a bit naive”. But in the future, he hopes it will become less of an issue.
“Over time,” Sam said, “everyone will adapt.”
How about joining the Miami Dolphins, who – according to the recently released Wells report – have been marred by harassment, offensive comments and more involving their offensive line?
If Miami drafted him, Sam said he would be “excited” and not fearful.
“I’m not afraid to go into that (kind of) environment,” he added. “I know how to manage myself, I know how to communicate with my teammates, I know how to communicate with the coaches and the staff – who I need to communicate with.”
On several occasions, Sam has spoken about his future in the NFL as a player, as well as as a gay role model. After all, last season he was named the best defensive player in the Southeastern Conference, considered the best league in the country. And his teammates named him Missouri’s most valuable player.
Yet there is no doubt that Sam became a national figure not because of his acting, but because he came out. Not all of the attention has been good, such as reports that some teams might avoid signing him now and that he might not be welcome in NFL locker rooms.
Still, Sam insisted Saturday, “the positive outweighs the negative.” He gave special thanks to members of the Missouri community – declaring “I’m MIZZOU, I’m a tiger forever” – while expressing gratitude to many others he’s never met.
“I’m actually kind of surprised,” Sam said. “There’s a lot of support, there’s a lot of people who want this.”
