Michael Sam drafted by St. Louis Rams

[theHandpuppet]

Congratulations, Michael!

[spanone]

1. k&r...

[jmowreader]

2. Seventh round, 249th overall pick

A lot of folks thought he was going to be taken almost at the end; there are seven picks remaining after Sam.

[okaawhatever]

3. K & R nt

[gratuitous]

4. Odd

The last seven SEC defensive players of the year have gone in the first round. Sounds like the SEC should be relegated to the FBS, huh?

[Logical]

7. In reality, Sam had a bad NFL combine performance. That is what hurt his draft chances. I am sure...

the gay reveal had some impact too. But his combine was not helpful.

[theHandpuppet]

10. Yes, I think the combine really dropped his draft stock

But right now all I want to do is celebrate. Watching the video of him getting that call had me in tears.

[Logical]

18. Me too! I am so glad he got picked! Neat day in this country! nt

[theHandpuppet]

25. This is the second time the Rams have made history

They were also the first team in the NFL to draft a black player, and this was a full year before Jackie Robinson integrated MLB.

[Cha]

50. That's interesting.. thanks tHP.. and thank you for the thread. nt

[Jenoch]

11. He also is too small for an NFL DE,

and a little slow for qn NFL LB.

He might be a decent special teams player.

It will be interesting to see how he is recieved in the NFL. i think the media will be his biggest hurdle.

[Logical]

19. I am excited and am hoping it goes well! nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. Yeah... Drew Brees is too small for a quarterback too.

they should can him.

[Jenoch]

30. You're kidding, right?

Size for a QB can be made up with talent. As good as Brees is, think of how good he would be if he was 6'4" with quickness.

Talent will not overcome the lack of size when there is a 320# OT and a 260" TE blocking an undersized DE.

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. No, I believe you are kidding sir.

At least I hope you are. I expect huge things from Mr. Sam, and I'm a Packer fan. I'm sure you are aware of how big the typical defense that Mr. Brees faces is... At least, I hope you are.

[Jenoch]

34. Ok, I'll try to explain it better.

Two QBs have equal talent and ability. One of them is 6'5" and 250. The other claims to be 6' but is really just under 5'11" and 200#. Which QB would you want leading your team? (Neither of them is Drew Brees.)

By the way, I did not make up those opinions about Sam's lack of size/speed and how it relates to the NFL. i read/heard about them from NFL analysts. I hope he proves them wrong.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. How about I explain it to you instead.

He will probably make for a great outside linebacker.

You know, quite a few of us follow/read/hear NFL analysts...and quite a few of them are full of bunk.

Here's the thing. Meet this guy:



5'11, 212

Hell of a quarterback in college. Switched to running back in the NFL.


And, if you're referring to Wilson, huge fan of him in college. Not such a huge fan of him in the NFL. (his comments after that horrible call by the replacement refs put him on my list forever ) We'll see what happens this year, now that his receiving line is a bit shook up.

[Jenoch]

44. Why isn't he a quarterback in the NFL?

Running backs are a commodity in the NFL. Peterson for the Vikings might be the lone exception.

The first RB picked this year was the 54th pick.

Yep, many of the NFL analysts are full of shit.

I was not referring to any particular QB. If you do not agree that with equal ability but a larger QB is more desirable, then I can't help you.

[DallasNE]

47. They Tried Him As An Outside LB In A 3-4

Why not an inside LB in either a 4-3 or a 3-4? He may need to drop about 10 pounds for that.

[Jenoch]

48. St. Louis uses a 4 - 3 defense so he might fit in.

He does not have to cover outside receivers, mostly tight ends. He might do well in that scheme.

I wish I had not posted anything about this player. I don't have anything against him. I just don't that because he is gay, if he does not make it in the NFL, it will be because he is gay.

[sofa king]

56. The Rams may recall one exception....

The great Fred Dryer was also an undersized DE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dryer

Dryer survived through rules changes which favored larger players at his position. He was considered "small" at 6 feet 6 inches tall; I think he weighed around 205 but I'm not sure.

Others, however, like the great Corey Moore, were unable to transition from being among the greatest-ever college DEs to professional football players at any position. It's a rough business in which talent and hard work (and cheating) can only partially make up for particular size deficits.

I wish Mr. Sam the very best of luck but being gay is the least of his problems in the pros. He needs to be bigger and faster, too.

[aaaaaa5a]

27. Sam had a bad combine. That hurt is draft standing.

He went right where he should have. His draft position would have been the same regardless of sexual orientation. Good for the NFL.

[joeglow3]

58. Honestly, I think THIS post sums up why he went so low

Really, the average team and player doesn't care one bit. However, an owner and team has to be leery because their every move will be judged and misjudged. If they don't think he is cutting it and he doesn't play much, many will say it is because he is gay. If they cut him, many will blast them for being homophobic. The reality is I don't think the vast majority give two shits and want whoever gives them the best chance of winning. However, for the owners, it all comes down to money and I bet many hedged their bets by NOT drafting him. Kudos to the rams for taking the risk.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Just saw that.

He also just inked an endorsement deal with VISA.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33852/michael-sam

[warrior1]

6. Cheers

[Gothmog]

8. Congratulation

[MohRokTah]

9. The Rams are now my third favorite team.

I'm a Bears guy. Come on, it's Chicago. Ya gotta go for Da Bears. The Bears will always be my favorite team.

My second favorite team is any team that beats Dallas.

So that leaves St. Louis as third.

[theHandpuppet]

13. I'm a Bengals fan but I want a Michael Sam jersey now.

Loved your sig line, BTW!

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Every year Cutler chokes is another happy year in my house. It has to be that way.

[xmas74]

24. I can't wait to see Ha Ha take the field.

If he proves his stock is worthy the fans will go nuts in Titletown.

You know this is going to be his chant

As to Sam-I'm in Missouri. Even though I'm in the KC market I'll still hear plenty about how he's holding up. I don't care for the Rams but I can root for him.

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. I can't either... I also look forward to a Rodgers to Rodgers pass!

[xmas74]

35. When I heard them draft Rodgers

I started furiously fanning myself out of pure excitement. And Aaron has already tweeted his two cents, which everyone loved.

We have some good picks this year. We have a Badger (FINALLY!), a kid from OSU (boo!) who is a massive GB fan (yay!) and said this was his dream, and we even picked up a DII player. (I live in a DII town and I have so much love for their athletes-they work so hard and deserve every bit of the attention they receive.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. Yup! Yup! and double yup on Division II!

It's why I do cheer for Joique Bell on the Lions. He's from my daughter's alma mater: Wayne State!

[xmas74]

38. I'm a UCM fan, since it's local.

(University of Central Missouri). Our conference is the MIAA, which is called the SEC of DII. I saw someone from the conference was drafted today, which was awesome.

Our school won the national this year in men's basketball. The town has gone crazy ever since. The bad part is that our beloved coach has decided to take the position as the head coach for Mizzou. He's taking at least one of his assistants with him and it's the one I just think the world of.

Speaking of basketball: how excited were you over our F4 finish this year and how excited will you be come winter for our (mostly) returning team? Go Badgers!


(Oh, I also have a buddy who is a Sag Valley grad. He's not a Packer fan now but I bet he becomes one soon. It'll be like how I hated the 49ers but rooted for Delanie Walker when he played for them.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. Cannot wait! They also played some of the most exciting games of March Madness..

to my admittedly biased eye, but it was fun!

This was a great draft all around. I hate the Browns and think they are idiots for their draft, but I was thrilled for Teddy Bridgewater after all the bashing the last couple of weeks.

[xmas74]

42. I'm not a Browns fan either

and them drafting Manziel made me like them even less.

Bridgewater will be a case of never, ever, ever rooting for the Vikings but actually rooting for a player. It'll be like the time the Vikings played the Packers and I actually rooted for Adrian Peterson, for one game only. I didn't want them to win but I did want to see him get that record that the Vikings screwed him out of, just to pick up that win and play at GB the next week.

[ScreamingMeemie]

43. He should have gone higher than Manziel.

I was listening to that game while driving back from WI, and I was rooting for AP as well. It's a shame he doesn't play for a team with a chance... like the Packers.



I still hurt over the Packers passing on Sanders.


I am forever grateful that the Daily Manziel will soon be over down here. He can't leave Texas soon enough.

[xmas74]

45. He's a spoilt brat

who is used to getting whatever he wants. I can't wait until his first sack. I normally don't watch them but I'll be doing so with the express purpose of rooting for the opposing team to sack.

I thought Bridgewater would go higher but am glad to see he was still first round. When Bortles went third overall and Manziel looked shaken-it was pure joy from my side.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

33. Aren't division rivalries fun?

Sounds like some of the trash talk we have with 49er fans.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. It's one of the best parts of the off-season and draft day!

[Logical]

39. So sometimes St. Louis is your 2nd favorite? nt

[ChisolmTrailDem]

12. K&R! :bounce:

[WillyT]

14. K & R !!!

[joeybee12]

15. Congrats to Michael and three cheers for the Rams organization...

It'll be a good fit...Michael has a lot of support in Missouri.

[iloveObama12]

16. Good luck to Michael Sam

[libdem4life]

28. Damn straight...uh, Right On!

[nomorenomore08]

49. +2

I'm very happy for him. And my sexuality has no relevance either way.

[wilsonbooks]

17. Congratulations.

MIZ

[jumptheshadow]

29. ZOU (nt)

[randome]

20. No! Don't bring him here! He'll bring the crazies with him!

Oh, well, it's not like I care about sports anyways. But good on the Rams for standing up to the fundamentalist nutbags.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[xmas74]

23. After watching his combine

(yep, I was on vacation during the combine and was able to watch it on NFL) I suspected he wouldn't be drafted. I figured he'd find a spot on a team but not from the draft.

Drafted or undrafted, he would have found a team to play. The difference now is his payday, not from the Rams but from all the sponsors. And he deserves it. He's shown grace under fire.

[LoisB]

26. As much as I can't stand the Rams, good on them and congratulations to Michael Sam.

[JohnnyRingo]

46. I hope it doesn't become the focus of his career.

That is to say, I hope every time his name comes up in the world of sports, it isn't necessary to mention his sexual persuasion. It shouldn't be a factor in his ability. He should be treated the same as every other player in the NFL.

I imagine he and the Rams share that hope.

[nomorenomore08]

51. The better he plays, the less significant his sexuality will be, I imagine. n/t

[Gravitycollapse]

52. The inverse issue then becomes that the worse he plays, the more it will be because he's gay.

Humans really are vicious creatures.

[nomorenomore08]

54. Yes we are. Sad to say.

[JohnnyRingo]

55. I really hadn't thought of that.

In a real sense, he has quite a weight on his shoulders to succeed. Homophobes would love the opportunity to blame poor performance on being gay.

[theHandpuppet]

53. Just read the comments on ESPN following the announcement

Boy, there are some really hateful people out there. I wish Michael all the strength to deal with it all.

[William769]

57. A big friggin K&R!