“I am not the only gay person in the NFL.” – Michael Sam
It has been widely assumed, as it should be, that Michael Sam was not the only gay player in the NFL when he was with the St. Louis Rams and the Dallas Cowboys last year.
Sam confirmed that, saying several NFL players contacted him after he was drafted and told him they were gay. The difference, of course, is that Sam was the only one who was openly gay.
“I am not the only gay person in the NFL,” Sam said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I’m just saying there are 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, who was speaking at the 2015 Dallas Holocaust Museum Upstander Speaker series, said he didn’t think it would be a big deal to come out, mostly because there are “gay athletes everywhere.” But as he knows now, it was a big deal. On one hand, there seem to be positives to it – Sam got the type of exposure almost no seventh-round pick will ever get – but the negative is he’ll always wonder if coming out hurt his professional career. He was cut by the Rams despite a solid preseason with 11 tackles and three sacks. He was signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad but cut before he ever got promoted to the active roster or appeared in a regular-season game. He hasn’t been signed since.
Sam said during his speech that he doesn’t believe he is being discriminated against. But it seemed from his quotes via the Star-Telegram that even if he doesn’t believe being gay is keeping him out of the NFL, there is a bit of lingering doubt. And that provides a pretty easy answer to why all those players who contacted Sam and told him they’re gay haven’t come out themselves.
“’Dancing with the Stars’ is my employer,” Sam said. “That’s my main source of income. … I’m unemployed, and I don’t believe I’m out of the NFL because I’m gay. But if it was a reason, it can hurt their livelihood, and you don’t want to take that chance.”
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9 Comments
simba
April 03, 04:39My dear Sam.. u can’t be the only one, u no fit.. infact there may not be a straight person in NFL.. Abi u wan monopolies the cakes and etc..
obatala
April 03, 05:08did u read d story before commenting? or commented before reading? or read d headline, commented and went back to sleep?
trystham
April 03, 05:35Awwww!!! Pooor dude. You gotsa live with the choices of ur actions…and YES, u av no job bcos u r gay and u came out. I believe u r a great team player so that enuff shud get u sought by many teams on a norms
Gad
April 03, 05:41We know he is not the only gay NFL player just as we know that gays are found everywhere and in every proffession.
Max
April 03, 06:14Sports is probably the most homophobic industry.
keredim69
April 03, 07:46Well stating the obvious is not going earn him points either. Those guys, if it’s true to they came out to him, would have done so in confidence.
pinkpanthertb
April 03, 08:41Exactly!
Ace
April 03, 08:10All I know is that all those cakes that gets forced into super tight sport spandex and all that falling on top of each other is just straight out my gay fantasy. Have you seen the cakes on those guys? And the way it vibrates when they run? And don’t get me started on their celebratory dance that recently seems to be twerking.
Chris
April 03, 15:29As i said in one previous write ups concerning Michael Sam, it is not bed of roses folks in the so called western world especially celebrities, particularly the black ones.
Coming out has consequeces (both good and bad ones). Taking a public stand with regards to sexuality issues needs to be weighed carefully. If coming out will affects ones livelihood, i will weigh it thoroughly, my view though.