Rams draft Michael Sam

[cal04]

Source: NBC Sports

Michael Sam is the first openly gay player in the history of the National Football League, and he’s a St. Louis Ram.

Sam, who came out as gay after ending his college career as a defensive end at Missouri, was selected by the Rams late in the seventh round, with the 249th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

The Rams made history by welcoming the first openly gay player to the NFL, and by keeping Sam in Missouri, they ensured that he’ll be in front of a supportive fan base.








Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I'm using every ounce of this to achieve greatness!!

https://twitter.com/MikeSamFootball/status/465269464477356033/photo/1

Read more: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/10/rams-draft-michael-sam/related/

---

Jeff Fisher: We drafted a good football player in Michael Sam

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after his team made Michael Sam the NFL’s first openly gay player that he has no worries about off-field distractions.

Fisher said on NFL Network that he believes there will be a lot of media attention at first, and then Sam will quickly get to work with his teammates.

“I don’t have any concern whatsoever,” Fisher said. “We drafted a good football player, and I’m excited to get him on the practice field and get him going. It’s going to be a little extra attention for a couple days."


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/10/jeff-fisher-we-drafted-a-good-football-player-in-michael-sam/

[xocet]

1. Congratulations to the Rams and to Michael Sam! n/t

[Faygo Kid]

2. Good for the Rams

A significant barrier broken. Now, we'll see how he does as a pro.

[BootinUp]

3. Good luck Mr.Sam and to the Rams too.

[Flatpicker]

4. Good on em

Truth be told I don't know enough about his skill set.

Is 7th round considered good for him or did his coming out push him back in the draft?

[stuckinodi]

7. Very late

Before he came out he was projected in the second or third round

[aaaaaa5a]

12. That context is not entirely true

Sam had a very poor combine and workout. His draft position was almost exactly where it should have been given his skill set.


PLUSES: The Rams are loaded defensively. They really have a good team. The Rams front line will be the best in football this year. Front lines help Linebackers (Sam's position) to become stars. Greg Williams is the Defensive Coordinator. He is known for exotic blitz packages (rushing the QB). This fits Sam's skill set perfectly. Sam will be a situational player who will rush the QB on passing downs in the NFL.


MINUSES: 7th round draft picks are NOT A LOCK to make the team. He will have to work hard. The Rams have a lot of defensive talent. Making the roster will not be easy. Sam is considered a bit slow and undersized. He will likely have to be "coached up" to be an NFL success.

[aaaaaa5a]

13. 7th round is about right given his skill set.

Most draft boards had him as a 6th or 7th round pick entering the draft.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. I think most mock draft people...

had him in the 4th or 5th before he came out. After the first two rounds predictions are hit and miss. He does have good skills, but is a bit undersized for the modern defensive lines. A year or two in the weight room may help that a bit. I do wish him luck. His coming out like he did (pre-draft) may help some that follow him.

[davepc]

22. He had a terrible workout at the combine

And he was already considered undersized for his position.

[Gothmog]

5. Congratulations to Mr. Sam

[a kennedy]

6. Now I hope this isn't going to be the only topic of this draft.....

get over it already......move on, let him do his job, and just stop with all the he's the first.....so what!!! JMHO.

[Fearless]

23. You don't grasp why this is important to people

It tells young kids who are gay that they can follow their dreams, be those dreams be in the sports arena or wherever. He shows them that if you fight for what you want, you can get it, regardless of who you love. That isn't just important. It's HUGE.

[theHandpuppet]

26. I was going to respond to that post as well

But I gave the benefit of the doubt that perhaps the poster was only joking and forgot an emoticon. I can see I was entirely too generous and you're much more civil than I would have been.

[a kennedy]

30. I'm not joking and didn't forget the emotion.....I get it....and am so happy for him.

But I don't want to be reminded over, and over how huge this is.....he's the first, and now may-be the country can move on to the next one, and then the next one, and then onto not talking about it. JMHO I'm extremely happy for him being drafted and it is HUGE.

[a kennedy]

29. I DO grasp why it's so important.....but I'm already sick of the talking heads talking about it.....

It's not going to be about the job he's doing, it's ALWAYS going to be about who he loves.

[HangOnKids]

28. This is the MOST important issue concerning this draft and many of us will NOT get over it

You are dead wrong with "just stop with all the he's the first.....so what!!! " The first step in any endeavor is critical, crucial, and paramount. Would you have expressed the same thoughts about Jackie Robinson? Your post is absurd.

[a kennedy]

31. I probably would have expressed the same thoughts regarding Jackie Robinson also......

I say, I'm so happy for Sam, and I KNOW IT'S A HUGE step, just sick of the talking heads jabbering about it. and again. JMHO.

[AnalystInParadise]

34. I would like to see

The evidence this was the most important issue in this draft.....that's laughably absurd. It is important, and it is shattering a ceiling, but nowhere near the most important part of the 2014 draft.

[theHandpuppet]

35. Laughably absurd?

Yeah, okay. Have a nice day.

[HangOnKids]

36. Where is your evidence that it isn't?

[AnalystInParadise]

37. The 200 and something

Players chosen before this young man are apparently bigger stories. My evidence is his draft number. Case closed.

[LynneSin]

8. The Rams got a steal

He should have gone a few rounds higher. But you know some of the best players are the ones drafted later in the draft. They don't have all the pressure on them to be a success - they just go out there and get the job done!

Good luck to the Rams and Michael Sams.

[yallerdawg]

9. 2013 SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year?

Alabama's CJ Moseley, the other co, went #17 to Ravens.

Moseley must have had a great camp, right NFL?

The Rams got a steal! And a local!

Remember that nobody quarterback they found stocking shelves in a grocery store?

Best wishes to Michael Sam!

[DesertDiamond]

10. For the first time in my life, I have a pro team I want to root for!! Go RAMS!!

[jberryhill]

11. Okay, I live under a rock

Weren't the Rams in Los Angeles?

[PasadenaTrudy]

14. Yep!

I remember they were in the '70s...

[BumRushDaShow]

15. And the Cardinals used to be in St. Louis

(now in Arizona) and the Colts used to be in Baltimore (now Indianapolis) and the Oilers used to be in Houston (then moved to Tennessee and became the Titans).

[jberryhill]

16. They should have to change names

So we don't end up with WTF like "Utah Jazz".

[BumRushDaShow]

27. My mother still does a WTF? when she hears "LA Dodgers"

being from the era of the "Brooklyn Dodgers".

[jberryhill]

32. What on earth is going on in the .gif in your signature?

[BumRushDaShow]

33. A big gust of wind scattered the little ducklings out of formation... :)

[awoke_in_2003]

20. I occasionally almost slip...

and say Baltimore Colts. It may be Freudian, as I LOATHE the Ravens.

[fbc]

17. I'm glad he's not in my team's division

So I don't have to root for his failure.

He may seem to be a "tweener" who could have trouble finding a position in the NFL, but he's already had tremendous success in the best conference in college football, so I think he has a very good shot at carving out a role for himself.

[Baclava]

39. I don't watch reality shows

we don't need the attention

[dawnie51]

18. Just watched the video of Michael

and his partner getting the phone call. It made me cry. What a wonderful thing this is to witness. I hope he does a smashing good job and has a long and healthy career. Cheers!

[Skittles]

25. never thought I'd see it in my lifetime

dare we hope to see the day when stuff like this isn't news? WOOO!!

[donco]

21. The Ram have

had pretty good luck with late draft picks.I believe drafted Curt Warner outta a super market.

[Skittles]

24. may I say

Mr. Sam and his partner are major-league cutie pies