Tag: NFL

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Listen: Michael Sam’s first press conference as a St. Louis Ram

Shortly after being drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft, Michael Sam took questions from sports writers in a telephone press conference.

A few excerpts:

• “I am overwhelmed. I’m excited and I’m proud to be a Ram.”

• “The St. Louis Rams saw my potential and I’m going to give everything I’ve got to them.”

• “It’s about playing football. Can Michael Sam play football? Yes I can.”

• “I knew I was going to get picked somewhere. Every team that passed me, I was thinking how I’m going to sack their quarterback.”

• “I’ve been getting in shape and preparing for this moment for a very long time. I’m so determined to be great.”

• “I’m happy to be with the St. Louis Rams. Everything else is history.”

Listen to the 10 minute press conference below.

Go Michael Sam! #SamFans

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Watching the 2014 NFL Draft

My husband Michael made fun of me because – for what may be the only time in history – I have been planted in front of the TV watching the NFL Draft since it began today to see if out NFL hopeful Michael Sam gets the nod today.

(Of course, the beer at 11am made for a visual also…)

Experts seem to see him getting drafted around number 169-179.

We’re at #166 right now.

I don’t care what round or spot – I just want to see Sam get drafted.

Go Michael Sam!

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NFL hopeful Michael Sam lands endorsement deal with VISA

Even before being picked in the NFL draft, Michael Sam has signed his first endorsement deal.

In a spot for Visa’s “Everywhere” campaign, Sam is shown working out while a voiceover urges the viewer to judge him for his play on the field, not off of it.

“We felt that Michael’s story was a perfect fit for our ‘everywhere’ campaign, which is meant to inspire people to reach their own personal goals and aspirations,” Visa’s chief marketing officer Kevin Burke told ESPN.com. “We wish Michael the best on and off the field as he embarks on the next chapter of his life.”

Sam is predicted to get picked in the NFL draft (which begins tonight) on Saturday, day three of this year’s draft.

(source)

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Washington lobbyist wants to boycott any team that drafts out NFL hopeful Michael Sam

Washington DC lobbyist Jack Burkman (who would like a federal law passed banning gays from the NFL) says he is planning to organize a boycott of any football team that picks openly gay football player Michael Sam in the NFL Draft.

From Christian Post:

In a release issued Thursday, Burkman said he would “leverage his political clout” to ensure that the franchise that selects the 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive end from Missouri would get “roughed up financially.”

“We shall exercise our First Amendment rights and shall not stop until the drafting NFL franchise cannot sell a single ticket, jersey or autographed football,” said Burkman. “In short, we shall be relentless.”

Burkman claims in the release that he is currently mobilizing “powerful grassroots organizations in 27 of the 50 states,” as well as a “coalition of Evangelical Christian leaders from across the nation to take part in a protest if Sam is drafted.”

(h/t JMG)

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Out NFL hopeful Michael Sam on the eve of NFL Draft: “Nervous” and “exciting” time

The NFL draft begins tomorrow and Michael Sam is ready for it.

“I’ve been thinking about this moment since junior year of college,’ Sam shares with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America. ‘It’s a very nervous time and a very exciting time. I’m ready for it.’

He added: ‘Where I go doesn’t matter as long as I get to play.’

Although he is not expected to be a top pick, latest estimates guess that Sam could see his name called in the fifth to seventh rounds. Either way, he would make history no matter what round should he get the nod in the next few days.

Between being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, coming out, getting a Sports Illustrated cover and recently hearing the news that he will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2014 ESPYs in July, these are heady times.

Thinking best thoughts for Sam over the next few days.

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Nate Silver puts Michael Sam’s draft chances at 50/50

Super-statistician Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight gives openly gay NFL-hopeful Michael Sam a 50/50 chance of being picked in the NFL Draft which begins Thursday:

I looked at what happened to projected sixth-round picks since 2005, as according to the Scouts Inc. draft board. Specifically, I looked at defensive ends and outside linebackers, the two positions that Sam might play in the NFL. (That some scouts regard Sam as a “tweener” is one reason he may not be drafted highly.)

There were 67 such players between 2005 and 2013. Of those, 37 players — 55 percent — were not drafted. Twenty-four others were drafted between the fifth and seventh rounds, while six were chosen in the fourth round or higher. Only about 10 percent were chosen in the sixth round exactly.

Silver says that if Sam isn’t chosen in the draft it will be difficult to pin point exactly why: Skill? Size? Gay? But – if Sam is neither drafted nor picked up as free agent, that could indicate that something other than his skills are being evaluated.

In the end, Silver says if he had to he would bet on Sam more than likely being drafted than not because in the end, a player only needs one team to draft him.

Fingers crossed this week for Michael Sam that a team takes a chance on a good man.

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Openly gay NFL hopeful Michael Sam may not get pick until late rounds of draft

Sports writer Bob McGinn says it’s likely openly gay NFL hopeful Michael Sam may not be picked in the NFL draft (which begins this Thursday) until late in the draft rounds:

The Journal Sentinel polled 21 scouts with national responsibilities asking what round, if any, they would be comfortable selecting Sam.

Three said fifth round. Three said sixth round. Three said seventh round. Five said they would sign him as a free agent. Seven said they wouldn’t sign him as a free agent.

Sam was SEC co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  Only one player who has won that award was selected outside the top 33 picks in the draft.

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Six NFL teams show serious interest in out football player Michael Sam

According to the Baltimore Sun, at least six teams have shown serious interest in openly gay football player Michael Sam:

As former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam continues his preparations for the NFL draft, several teams have maintained contact with the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The Ravens are among the teams that have displayed the most interest in Sam since the NFL scouting combine along with the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, according to league sources.

The All-American selection is poised to become the first openly gay NFL player.

During the NFL scouting combine, Sam had a formal meeting with the Ravens.

“Any player that has the qualities to be a great player and a good teammate is a guy that fits us. We’re really good at helping players, any player, become a part of our team. That goes to all the things that I think are happening in the NFL the last couple of months,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.