Michael Sams undrafted—distraction or talent?

[JoshB]

Michael Sam, first SEC Defensive Player of the Year to not be drafted in the first two rounds... ever... still not drafted.

 

[TerryP]

Michael Sam, first CO-SEC Defensive Player of the Year to not be drafted in the first two rounds... ever... still not drafted.

Small correction there: the other was drafted in the first round.

If one were to look at his selection, there's a good argument in giving it to Dee Ford or Marcus Golden.

That post could have been written as follows: Michael Sam, the first Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year who had horrible combine results, is still waiting to be drafted.

Of course, that won't fit the coming narrative...

 

[TerryP]

Michael Sam, first SEC Defensive Player of the Year to not be drafted in the first two rounds... ever... still not drafted.

Small correction there: the other was drafted in the first round.

If one were to look at his selection, there's a good argument in giving it to Dee Ford or Marcus Golden.

That post could have been written as follows: Michael Sam, the first Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year who had horrible combine results, is still waiting to be drafted.

Of course, that won't fit the coming narrative...

 

[JoshB]

Yes I understand what you are saying... He had a lousy combine and I think something like 9 of his 11.5 sacks happened in 3 games, but come on man this is getting a little ridiculous. D-Linemen from Canada and Marist are going before Michael Sam, you will not whatsoever convince me that they are better players than Sam nor have more potential than him. We all know deep down why he is dropping whether its that the teams simply dont want what they think will be a distraction or for whatever the other reason may be.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

It is about being a distraction. Most teams just don't see it worth it.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Sure there's going to be a distraction with Sam, but he's simply just not that good IMO and I think combine brought a lot of that out.

I can also kind of see why Hubbard wasn't drafted

 

[planomateo]

Yes I understand what you are saying... He had a lousy combine and I think something like 9 of his 11.5 sacks happened in 3 games, but come on man this is getting a little ridiculous. D-Linemen from Canada and Marist are going before Michael Sam, you will not whatsoever convince me that they are better players than Sam nor have more potential than him. We all know deep down why he is dropping whether its that the teams simply dont want what they think will be a distraction or for whatever the other reason may be.

Clowney had 3 sacks all year - against Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Clemson...

 

[JoshB]

Jeff Fisher just compared the Rams drafting Michael Sam to the Rams signing the first black NFL player in the 40s... I'm about to vomit... ESPN running this shit into the ground.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Good PR move by the Rams, but nobody is going to convince me that he's going to make the team just based on ability

 

[bama alum]

Good PR move by the Rams, but nobody is going to convince me that he's going to make the team just based on ability

7th round picks are the same as undrafted free agents. St. Louis just got a chance to be a footnote in history. I really don't see Sam making the team. Not unless they can put him on a big weight-gaining program

 

[rick4bama]

May keep him just for the PR. Just look at all the cover he got when the Ram did draft him.

 

[TerryP]

Yes I understand what you are saying... He had a lousy combine and I think something like 9 of his 11.5 sacks happened in 3 games, but come on man this is getting a little ridiculous. D-Linemen from Canada and Marist are going before Michael Sam, you will not whatsoever convince me that they are better players than Sam nor have more potential than him. We all know deep down why he is dropping whether its that the teams simply dont want what they think will be a distraction or for whatever the other reason may be.

It is about being a distraction. Most teams just don't see it worth it.

Distraction + poor combine results = where he is today.

My point is the narratives will likely tell one side of the story—but not both.

Take Marcus Golden out of that defensive line at Mizzou and Sam isn't a known name. (Golden made a damn good decision to stay, IMO.)

I'll still maintain if you take Kelsey Quarles out of the rotation on the DL at UofSC Clowney doesn't have the number he did two seasons ago. Quarles wasn't drafted as well.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Good thing is that they drafted him. Might be low but he was drafted. Now the next kid to come out might not start all of this crap all over. Are homosexuals discriminated against? Yep, just like any other group. Does every slight against them mean they were discriminated against? Nope, not in the least.

 

[bamaraider]

Impressive draft by St Louis and Jacksonville. Really loved Reggie McKenzie's draft though. Addressed all the positions we needed, then added Texas WR Mike Davis as an UDFA.

Off-topic, I have absolutely no problems with gays, in fact, I support gay marriage; however, I'm getting tired of the media talking about Michael Sam kissing hif bf and what he's going to be like. Its that I don't like hearing about what he's going to do, its just the fact that they're talking about him 24/7 and not talking about anything else. Just have one segment for him and let that be it.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I think it's funny everyone calls the dude a distraction because he was open about who he loves, whereas guys who commit crimes, have bad attitudes, run their mouths 24/7, etc. are so normalized that they aren't even looked at as distractions. Blah.

Best of luck to him. May his character and play on the field be the true determining factor of whether or not he makes the team. And may this move pave the way for acceptance of gay players (both male and female) in all sports.

Hopefully one day we have a world where being gay, transgender/sexual, etc. is so accepted and understood that it's not news, and that players are judged solely on the content of their character and their play on the field.

 

[crimsonpirate]

I saw where Sams got a call from Obama. If we're not supposed to care what a player's sexual orientation is, why is the Prez and the media making so much over it?

By the way, living 80 miles from the Big Easy, I was glad the Saints chose Vinnie Sunseri. He's been one of my favorites throughout his career at Alabama.

 

[rick4bama]

The two big stories this afternoon were Sams and Texas not having anyone drafted. The second item is confirmation that it was time for Mack to go. Sams is a "tweener" with less than outstanding vertical, 40 and long jump. The interesting part will be when camps begin and the cuts start coming. If Sams is cut, will all the usual suspects be whining and demonstrating?

For some reason PJ I don't think he will be cut. Right now he getting more press than any US Solider has every got. You see what happen when the Dolphins player said something about the kiss.
Also the last time Texas didn't have any players drafted was 1938.

 

[JoshB]

Every football player in the draft gets more press than a soldier gets, I dont get your point there...

ESPN is def. gonna run the gay thing into the ground, hell they already have.

 

[planomateo]

ESPN can run anything into the ground...

Every football player in the draft gets more press than a soldier gets, I dont get your point there...

ESPN is def. gonna run the gay thing into the ground, hell they already have.

 

[rick4bama]

Every football player in the draft gets more press than a soldier gets, I dont get your point there...

ESPN is def. gonna run the gay thing into the ground, hell they already have.

It the soldier in me,that all.