As the 2014 NFL Draft is near, an All-American defensive end Michael Sam obtains a plenty of supports and praises from the NFL Hall of Famers for revealing his sexuality orientation. During the interview with the ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” few months ago, Sam proudly and openly admitted that he is gay, which is why the NFL Hall of Famers admires him very much.
A Hall of Fame linebacker Harry Carson did not hesitate to share with the media reporters about his personal experience of playing with Roy Simmons back in the early of 1980s. Carson said there was some theory about Simmons being gay. Eventually, when Simmons’ football career was over in 1992, he publicized on the Phil Donahue Show that he was gay.
“Back in the early 80’s, I played with a player named Roy Simmons,” Carson said via ESPN. “There was some speculation that Roy was gay. That never swayed anyone’s opinion of him, the way that he played the game. He never said anything. We’re team, and guys on the team, they’re going to support their teammate regardless of how they choose to live their life. I was a captain on that team and would have made certain that nothing would have happened; not on my watch.”
A Hall of Fame cornerback Michael Haynes praises Sam for the decision he made letting the public know that he is gay. The NFL Draft prospect earns the admiration from the NFL legends for not hiding his sexualorientation. The only thing he can’t hide is his football talent. When Sam gets drafted by an NFL team, he will be the first openly gay player to ever get drafted this year.
The generation has changed. Regardless of the sexual orientation, these days the sports world is willing to accept their differences. With an acceptance of differences, this generation seems to be better than it was in the past. Another Hall of Fame cornerback Roger Wehrli believes that Sam will be “fine” once he reaches to the NFL.
“Sam will be fine in the NFL because in the locker rooms, people don’t worry about your personal life as long as you produce on the field and you’re a good teammate,” Wehrli said.
According to the San Francisco 49ers owner and co-chairman John York last week via CNN, the 49ers would sign Sam if the coaching staff believes he would fit the team’s need. He cited that “What his sexual orientation is would not matter in our locker room.” An NFL teams should be concerned about a player’s productivity on the field, not his sexuality orientation.
It is a big possibility that Sam will get drafted by an NFL team this Thursday night. When he gets drafted, he seems to be ready to conquer the negative perception of his sexual orientation and show the world that his sexuality orientation has nothing to do with his ability of football. The Hall of Famers will probably be rooting for him all season long.
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