Anonymous NFL Execs Are Sure That The League Isn't Ready For A Gay Player

[DonViejo]

TOM KLUDT – FEBRUARY 10, 2014, 6:53 AM EST

Michael Sam came out publicly on Sunday, likely setting himself to become the first openly gay player in the National Football League. And then a group of league executives reminded everyone why such an announcement probably didn't happen sooner.

Speaking anonymously to Sports Illustrated, the executives said that the All-American defensive end from Missouri probably hurt his draft stock with his announcement.

"I don't think football is ready for [an openly gay player] just yet," an NFL player personnel assistant told SI. "In the coming decade or two, it's going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it's still a man's-man game. To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It'd chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room."

One longtime NFL scout said there's "no question" the announcement will make teams less apt to select Sam in April's draft. An assistant personnel director said it will take "one confident general manager or head coach" with firm job security to take Sam.

###

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/michael-sam-anonymous-nfl-executives-gay-player

[spanone]

1. chickenshits.....speaking anonomously....how brave!

[DetlefK]

2. Those precious little football-players are afraid to share a locker room with a homosexual.

What's next? Sharing a locker room with a negro or a meeting room with a woman???

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Oh, now, that's just crazy talk!

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. WTF does this mean:

It'd chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room."

I want THAT explained!

[Le Taz Hot]

4. What's to get "ready" for?

I don't get it.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. The HUGE amount of publicity that will follow them according to them.

It will be a distraction.

I'll tell you what should be a distraction. All the head injuries they covered up and all the crimes committed by NFL players past and present.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. Not to mention their tax-exempt status.

When I'm looking at trying to scrape up a completely unexpected humongous tax bill (for us) the fact that the NFL is tax-exempt makes my blood boil Must be nice to be wealthy and connected.

[Hosnon]

8. Talk about cowards. Not ready for an openly gay player?

Good lord. Someone get them a fan.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. If one more person talks about the sanctity of the NFL locker room,

I will scream.
They act like it's a church with rules set in stone. Those bozos can change and the owners and the league can step on them.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. Sports Culture is the home of homophobia, look at the Olympics.

The ardent sports fans simply do not care about the mistreatment of others. They take it so far as to be offended if the very people their culture attacks object to the attacks.
Backward culture for backward people.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. A lot of people who enjoy sports aren't against LGBT rights.

Unfortunately the voices most heard are the loudest and the worst. The media enables this because they love to print controversial statements.

It's time for people to step up and do it loudly. We will see who's who now.

[Cal Carpenter]

12. "...it's still a man's-man game..."

Anyone else get a chuckle outta that line?

But the main point seems to be that homophobia is perfectly acceptable in the NFL, imo these assholes need to get over it. And if they can't, they (the homophobes) need to be shamed into secrecy, not the gay players.

Whether they like it or not, I'm sure there have been gay players in the league all along.

[Are_grits_groceries]

13. There are and they're stupid if they think there aren't.

The 'locker room culture' can be changed.