A few weeks ago, Citlally Maciel wrote an article on these pages describing, among other things, the National Football League’s (NFL) history of condoning “acts of homophobia, bullying and discrimination” amongst its executives and players. No one could have predicted how timely this article would prove to be, as the league’s collective attitude towards tolerance, respect, and acceptance is going to be put to the test like never before over the coming months.
On Feburary 9th, Missouri defensive end and NFL draft prospect publicly announced that he is gay. If Sam gets drafted he will become the only openly gay player in the NFL and in major North American pro sports. Several players have come out after they retired, and there are likely others who have chosen not to come outl however, Sam would be the first player to have his sexual orientation publicly known during his active playing days. The timing of the announcement is impeccable, not only because the NFL has come under fire for locker-room bullying and a discriminatory atmosphere as of late, but also on account of the Sochi Olympics, and the associated backlash against Russia’s laws against homosexual “propaganda.” While this is certainly just a coincidence (the timing of the announcement was largely driven by Sam’s realization that his sexual orientation was becoming widely known in the football community and he wanted to control the message himself), the topic of gay-rights in sports is on the minds of many right now.
It goes without saying that Sam is an incredibly brave man, and a possible trailblazer for other gay athletes. Missouri coaches and teammates, the media, current and former current NFL players, as well as President Barrack Obama have exalted his courage. Any negative reaction to the announcement has certainly been drowned out by the celebration of Sam’s fortitude.
However, as the news settles in and the applause begins to dwindle, one question will remain. What’s next for Michael Sam?
It would be naïve to believe that Sam’s announcement will not impact the way teams view him in the lead-up to the NFL draft. Sam had an excellent senior season at Missouri, recording 11.5 sacks on route to being named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) defensive player of the year and Missouri’s most valuable player. However, he is somewhat undersized for an NFL defensive end, at 6’2” and 260 pounds, and may need to convert to the linebacker position at the NFL level. As a result, he is projected to go somewhere around the third round of the draft. A Sports Illustrated survey of NFL executives and coaches suggested that Sam’s draft stock will be negatively impacted by his announcement. The belief is that, with other qualified players available, teams will pass on Sam in order to avoid the “distraction”. It is uncertain how coaches, teammates, and the media will react to Sam’s presence, and many believe that, in short, he might not be worth the risk. What is certain is that Sam is no longer just another defensive end prospect. All potential NFL draft picks are put through the wringer at the NFL Draft Combine, which is intended to test both the physical and mental abilities of prospects in advance of the draft. Sam will no doubt be put under particularly intense scrutiny at the Combine, as teams assess whether he has the mental toughness to handle the constant attention he will receive as a pro.
It is possible that a team with stable management and a strong coaching staff (the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers or San Francisco 49ers for example) could see Sam’s announcement as an opportunity to obtain an excellent defensive prospect at a “discount.” Alternatively, a small market team (such as the San Diego Chargers or Buffalo Bills) may see it as an opportunity to “make a splash” in order to increase media exposure and sell merchandise (Exhibit A: Tim Tebow). Perhaps the savvy general manager will consider the makeup of its fan base and city before drafting Sam. Would he be better positioned for success in San Francisco or Seattle than in Jacksonville or Tennessee? These are the kinds of questions that will be asked over the coming months. In any case, Sam will be amongst the biggest stories leading up to the NFL Draft, and once the third round hits, every team in the market for a pass rusher will be scrutinized for their decision to take, or not to take, Michael Sam.
Assuming that Sam is drafted into the NFL and earns a roster spot, he will face another set of questions and challenges. First off, how will Sam’s sexuality be received by his teammates? It proved to be a non-issue at Missouri, and I believe that the same would hold true in the NFL. For all the criticism directed at professional athletes, they remain professionals. They have a job to do that requires their undivided attention, and I believe they would welcome any teammate who helps their team win. In addition, NFL players are generally in their 20s, and have grown up in a generation with widespread exposure to homosexuality and a general distaste for homophobic behaviour. Nonetheless, the recent Miami Dolphins bullying scandal proved that the NFL locker room is still dominated by machismo. While perhaps not as common as it once was, the use of homophobic language remains an issue in the locker room environment. Any team that drafts Sam would have to recognize (as any team should) that that form of language has no place in their locker room or any other for that matter.
The conduct of opponents is another issue that Sam likely faces. While one would hope that opponents have the professionalism and maturity to treat Sam like any other player, the fact remains that trash-talking is a part of the game and opponents will go to great lengths to get under a player’s skin. It is possible that Sam may be the target of directed taunting based on his sexuality. While I am sure he has tried to prepare himself for this, it is up to the league, and opposing coaching staff’s to take a zero-tolerance approach towards this kind of behaviour.
Unfortunately, teammates and opponents are not likely to be Sam’s harshest critics once he enters the league. It is only a matter of time before the hostile few amongst the NFL’s fan base attempt to have their voices heard. It is up to Sam, and other true football fans to turn the other cheek and ignore any detractors, under the understanding that their views are driven by ignorance and prejudice.
The most difficult aspect of Michael Sam’s ascent into the NFL, however, is likely to be the media circus that will follow him, his teammates, and his coaching staff around all season. Sam has proven to be highly articulate and is aware of the repercussions of his announcement. It remains to be seen how teammates and coaching staff will react to the constant media attention. Tim Tebow was deemed too distracting for most NFL teams, despite showcasing (some) talent as a quarterback and ball-carrier. Similarly, Punter Chris Kluwe was deemed expendable by the Minnesota Vikings, allegedly in part due to his affiliation with gay rights groups and the attention that this created.
It is undeniable that Michael Sam faces challenges and uncertainty as the first openly gay active player in NFL, and major North American professional sports, history. One hopes that he will find the level of acceptance, respect, and success in the NFL that he did at Missouri. Sam’s coach at Missouri, Gary Pinkel described Sam’s announcement as “mammoth.” It will remain the biggest news story of the NFL off-season and the early part of the NFL season until fans and the media realize that this isn’t that big of a deal at all, and that Michael Sam is just a football player who happens to be gay. At some point more players will come out, and then there will be two, and then 10, and then 30. And then Michael Sam will be just another defensive end in the NFL and everyone will wonder what we were all fussing about.