NFL draft prospect Michael Sam comes out

[NYCskinfan82]

Originally Posted by dmek25

to me this is non news. all anyone should care about if he can make plays. no more, no less

Well said.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

He ends up in Seattle at the end of round 2 and tears it up becoming an all pro.

[Fiversons]

He was projected to be a mid round draft pick before the Senior Bowl where they had him standing up and he simply looked lost... He sounds to me like another Brandon Jenkins, a project 3-4 OLB... If he drops past the 5th round, then by all means... But I don't think we should spend any more than that... And assuming we bring back Sackpo, we are pretty set at that position...

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Love that he came out like this, it's the first step to a culture change in the NFL which could eventually lead a lot of other old-fashioned, bull-headed components of society into the future.

That said, he's not all that good. He led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, but 9 of those sacks came against Vanderbilt, Arkansas State and Florida (they had a down year). He dominates sub-par competition but plays to a stalemate against the better competition. Guess what kind of competition he'll find in the NFL.

He'd have to play OLB in our system and it makes no sense investing a 3rd or 4th at a position where we already have Kerrigan and Orakpo (assumed). Depth is good and all but we have too many holes elsewhere.

I'd pass on him. And my judgment is entirely based on football, as it should be.

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by mlmdub130

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Probably the big reason is he's a tweener. Too small for full time DE and will need a lot of work playing OLB.

Regarding his announcement I think 90% of players/coaches won't give 2 shits about it. If he can play, he can play.

[NYCskinfan82]

Originally Posted by mlmdub130

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Good Info definitely have to wonder.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by mlmdub130

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Cursory reviews of college statistics don't apply. Only an assessment of his skills and how they may translate to the NFL can tell how he might play. Don't take my word for it, here's a scouting report. But basically, he's a tweener (6'2" 260 lbs) without the top-flight speed and burst.

Michael Sam: The Scouting Report | Audibles - SI.com

Pros: Comes off the snap with speed and burst to the outside, and can beat blocks on inside stunts. Gets a good ride on a blocker’s inside shoulder and can push people back when he gets a full head of steam. Has decent redirect and recognition ability — will turn to run and tackle with effort even after he’s beaten, though he doesn’t always hit the mark. Has enough foot agility to deal with cut blocks. Will work through gaps more like a running back than a defensive end — has good patience in waiting for things to open up at the line. Gets his sacks more through effort than technique, though the effort is clear and consistent.

Cons: Sam needs to be given free space to really do his thing. He’s not an overwhelmingly powerful bull-rusher, nor does he yet possess the array of hand moves and foot fakes that would allow him to elude blockers one-on-one. As a result, he tends to get overwhelmed in the wash of blockers too often. Needs more functional upper-body strength — tends to lose leverage battles even when he establishes lower pad level. This liability becomes even more pronounced when he slips inside in front adjustments and has to deal with a guard and maybe a center on double-teams — he can’t consistently work through power to make plays. Sam also finds it hard to get a second effective strike on a blocker after he’s been stood up on initial impact.
Open-field speed could be an issue at the next level; Sam tends to glide more than he accelerates. Doesn’t have the kind of inside counter (think Dwight Freeney) that would allow him to exert pressure after he’s been pushed out of the pocket. Lacks “get-up” speed in short spaces and plays will move right by him before he can get there. Hasn’t dropped into coverage a lot, though physical limitations make one wonder if he’ll be able to do that at an elite level.

Conclusion: Given the nature of Michael Sam’s story, he’ll be an important NFL individual if he makes it through an NFL training camp. Unfortunately, the nature of his play will leave a lot of teams wondering if he’s worth the trouble. That would be true if he was a first-round prospect, but for a guy whose tape shows early third-day talent, things are far more complex. Taking the narrative aside, I think Sam could be a reasonably effective player in a 4-3 defensive line rotation, or a run-side endbacker in a 3-4, if he improves his technique and finds a way to use more pure power on the field. The speed probably is what it is, and that’s a problem — because edge-rushers need more than the burst he currently has, and tweeners who move inside require far more ability to move people than he’s shown.
Michael Sam has shown a great deal of courage and self-knowledge in doing what he’s done. There’s no doubt about that. But his NFL future is far murkier, and that has nothing to do with anything but the ultimate equalizer — pure talent.

[NC_Skins]

[JoeRedskin]

Michael Sam in the NFL: Players, Execs Agree There Are No Easy Answers | Bleacher Report

From the article:

The league office wants this to happen. Commissioner Roger Goodell has an openly gay brother.

Did not know that.

[SmootSmack]

Old article, but a good one

Vince Lombardi would have been proud of Jason Collins - ESPN New York

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Old article, but a good one

Vince Lombardi would have been proud of Jason Collins - ESPN New York

They talked about Lombardi and tolerance during A Football Life: Jerry Smith too. Yet another reason to admire Lombardi.

[budw38]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Old article, but a good one

Vince Lombardi would have been proud of Jason Collins - ESPN New York

Nice article . Agree with the above post's from most everyone . I really believe that most people don't give a sh-t about anything other than a mans character , heart ect.

[DynamiteRave]

Good on him. But all I care about is if the dude can play and if he can, that we draft him!

[jamf]

On a personal level, i could not care less that he is gay. it's a shame he has to announce it but I do think he did the right thing. I give him credit for having the courage to come out and also address his college team. The fact that his teammates kept this quiet out of respect for him says a lot about him as a person.

now back to the tasteless real world. I love a good offensive joke. I like to consider myself an equal opportunity offender.
I can't describe the joy the dallas cowboys would bring to me by drafting him. the majority of my family can pretty much be described as macho hispanic cowboy fans from Arizona and New Mexico. The amount of trash talking this provides over the holidays is endless.

"So cousin Tony, I hear that new linebacker of yours is really impressing the coaches, they said he likes to play press coverage on the tight ends in the shower".
Ok thats lame but I would have time to create some good stuff.

If the Cowboys don't draft him, I hope we do. we need talent and this guy has it.

[Mechanix544]

blah blah blah. Who cares if you like to look at womens asses when you walk down the street, or guys asses when you walk down the street? The question is can he play football and be an asset to the Redskins. From what I've seen on youtube, I think he very well could.