Georgia is ready for an openly gay NFL player. So are the Atlanta Falcons, so ready that the team is hinting it's one of six squads interested in drafting 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 SEC defensive end standout is poised to become the first openly gay player in the NFL. But he wants the focus on football, which is a smart thing to say ahead of the May 8 draft.
“A trailblazer?” Sam said during the combine. “I feel like I'm Michael Sam. I just wish you guys would see me as Michael Sam, the football player, instead of Michael Sam, the gay football player. There's a lot of support out there. I just want to do what I do, and that's play football.”
Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, a teammate of Sam's at Missouri, says he'd be OK with Sam in the locker room. Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff says the team will evaluate Sam on his skills and owner Arthur Blank adds that it's up to the team to make gay jocks “part of our culture.”
If the Falcons land Sam, look out Jungle. He might make this shirtless craziness happen on your dance floor.
