NFL draft prospect Michael Sam comes out

He ends up in Seattle at the end of round 2 and tears it up becoming an all pro.

He was projected to be a mid round draft pick before the Senior Bowl where they had him standing up and he simply looked lost... He sounds to me like another Brandon Jenkins, a project 3-4 OLB... If he drops past the 5th round, then by all means... But I don't think we should spend any more than that... And assuming we bring back Sackpo, we are pretty set at that position...

Love that he came out like this, it's the first step to a culture change in the NFL which could eventually lead a lot of other old-fashioned, bull-headed components of society into the future.

That said, he's not all that good. He led the SEC with 11.5 sacks, but 9 of those sacks came against Vanderbilt, Arkansas State and Florida (they had a down year). He dominates sub-par competition but plays to a stalemate against the better competition. Guess what kind of competition he'll find in the NFL.

He'd have to play OLB in our system and it makes no sense investing a 3rd or 4th at a position where we already have Kerrigan and Orakpo (assumed). Depth is good and all but we have too many holes elsewhere.

I'd pass on him. And my judgment is entirely based on football, as it should be.

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Michael Sam in the NFL: Players, Execs Agree There Are No Easy Answers | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1954822-michael-sam-in-the-nfl-players-execs-agree-there-are-no-easy-answers?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2)

From the article:
The league office wants this to happen. Commissioner Roger Goodell has an openly gay brother.

Did not know that.

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Probably the big reason is he's a tweener. Too small for full time DE and will need a lot of work playing OLB.

Regarding his announcement I think 90% of players/coaches won't give 2 shits about it. If he can play, he can play.

Old article, but a good one

Vince Lombardi would have been proud of Jason Collins - ESPN New York (http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9237535/vince-lombardi-proud-jason-collins)

to me this is non news. all anyone should care about if he can make plays. no more, no less

Well said.

Just to play devils advocate, you say he got most of his sacks against lesser competition, I say it is still the SEC, and those teams give out scholarships too. At the end of the year the award for best defensive player in the SEC doesn't go to the guy who was ok, it goes to the best player in the SEC. And as recent history shows us the player to win SEC defensive player of the year is usually a very good talent. Here is a list of the most recent and where they were drafted.
Michael Sam ?
J Jones 17th overall
M Claiborne 6th overall
P Peterson 5th overall
R McClain 8th overall
E Berry 5th overall
G Dorsey 5th overall

And then there's the list of single season sack leaders from Mizzou
1. Michael Sam 11.5, ?
1. Aldon Smith 11.5, 7th overall pick
2. Justin Smith 11, 4th overall pick

As an outsider with no real football knowledge you would think the player to win SEC defensive player of the year stands a very good chance of being drafted in the top 10, let alone the 1st round. It leads me to wonder if maybe his draft stock was already going down because there were rumors of his sexuality being in question. And rather than have any rumors out there he just took it head on instead of beating around the bush.

It's just weird for me to hear the pedigree of the SEC D player of the year and then to hear some one say this kid could fall to the 5th or 6th round, makes no sense to me.

Good Info definitely have to wonder.

Good on him. But all I care about is if the dude can play and if he can, that we draft him!

Old article, but a good one

Vince Lombardi would have been proud of Jason Collins - ESPN New York (http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/9237535/vince-lombardi-proud-jason-collins)

They talked about Lombardi and tolerance during A Football Life: Jerry Smith too. Yet another reason to admire Lombardi.