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Sam won't be around forever, and I suspect he'll never get the amount of respect around the league that his abilities merit due to bigotry, but it was in the NFL's interests to see if any team would even attempt to give him a fair chance in the NFL.
Are you suggesting the Rams organization released Sam because they're bigoted? If so, heads need to roll.
I'm too lazy to check, but I wonder how many rookies were released by the team that drafted them due to their abilities (or lack thereof)? Sam got a fair chance with the Rams, and his lack of ability prevented him from not only making the final roster, but their practice squad as well.
Fortunately for him he's gay, the league lobbied on his behalf, and now he's a Cowboy. Too bad for all of the other released rookies, though. I truly hope he makes the most of the opportunity. If at some point his abilities and stats merit it, he'll earn the respect he deserves, I suspect.
Quote:Your comparison is misguided.
First is that religious people aren't persecuted like gay people are.
Second is that Tebow didn't need the NFL to request that teams consider him because he was a first round pick and played for multiple teams.
Sam won't be around forever, and I suspect he'll never get the amount of respect around the league that his abilities merit due to bigotry, but it was in the NFL's interests to see if any team would even attempt to give him a fair chance in the NFL.
Luckily for the NFL, America's team stepped up to the plate.
So you're saying that Jeff Fisher didn't give him a fair shot? There's the issue, he tried and got cut. If another team was interested then great. It's in no one's interest for the league to take an exceptional action for this one player based solely on his sexual orientation. That makes the situation one that is unfairly titled towards an individual over all of the other cut players. How would you feel if you were one of the other Rams rookies who were cut the same day then you see the news that the NFL is playing headhunter for a guy that you're better than? Yeah, we know, you'd just say :Well, he
IS gay after all, that clearly makes him more important than me." It's a disgraceful act by the league and it, along with this Ray Rice mess shows what happens when the league acts without thinking; they build resentment towards the player, the team and the league. You're the one who is misguided, It isn't as wonderful as you think it is at all. It's a disgrace and disservice to the Michael Sam that he's on a roster for his proclivities and not his talent and everyone knows it.
Quote:Are you suggesting the Rams organization released Sam because they're bigoted? If so, heads need to roll.
I'm too lazy to check, but I wonder how many rookies were released by the team that drafted them due to their abilities (or lack thereof)? Sam got a fair chance with the Rams, and his lack of ability prevented him from not only making the final roster, but their practice squad as well.
Fortunately for him he's gay, the league lobbied on his behalf, and now he's a Cowboy. Too bad for all of the other released rookies, though. I truly hope he makes the most of the opportunity. If at some point his abilities and stats merit it, he'll earn the respect he deserves, I suspect.
I suspect the Rams released him because they didn't need him, they already experienced firsthand that he's like the rest of the players, he just goes home to the man he loves at night openly instead of secretly as in the case of the rest of the closeted gay players in the league.
I suspect he wasn't getting a sniff around the rest of the league because homophobia is still deeply entrenched in society.
It's ironic that you say fortunately for him he's gay, it's quite the opposite, for a guy that got multiple sacks and a lot of tackles in the preseason to not even get a whiff of a practice squad is strongly indicative of the decision being based on something other than his abilities and production.
Quote:Your comparison is misguided.
First is that religious people aren't persecuted like gay people are.
Second is that Tebow didn't need the NFL to request that teams consider him because he was a first round pick and played for multiple teams.
Sam won't be around forever, and I suspect he'll never get the amount of respect around the league that his abilities merit due to bigotry, but it was in the NFL's interests to see if any team would even attempt to give him a fair chance in the NFL.
Luckily for the NFL, America's team stepped up to the plate.
I'm going to respond to this carefully. I don't want to break the rules regarding religion.
To your first point, yes people of faith are routinely persecuted just as much as gays. As it relates to politics, the persecution tends to come from the left. I saw it first hand. I would go into detail, but I'm trying to abide by the rules.
Second, part of the reason Tebow might have not been a consideration for teams is because of the media circus that went along with him. Yes part of that media circus might have been associated with his play on the field (or lack thereof... see "Johnny Football"). However, there was even a phrase associated with him (tebowing) that had absolutely nothing to do with his play on the field.
Finally, what "respect" around the league does his "abilities" merit? The fact that he was able to record a couple of sacks in preseason against opposing teams playing personnel that are probably not on a roster?
The bottom line is, he is just not good enough to be an NFL player. Had there not been the media circus regarding his sexual orientation, nobody would even know who he is, and most likely he would be doing something else.
Oklahomie's mind has been made. Michael Sam is an All-Pro level player and the only reason he doesn't already have a Super Bowl ring is because the entire NFL organization is one giant bigot.
How can you guys even take Oklahomie seriously on topics like this? He will take the far left stance whether he is right or wrong because his political agenda is more important than moving forward.
There are plenty of straight men that impact their teams during the preseason but don't make the final roster. Why aren't you upset about those people not getting looks?
Quote:There are plenty of straight men that impact their teams during the preseason but don't make the final roster. Why aren't you upset about those people not getting looks?
That's a rather nebulous statement, I'm curious to know which guys after being drafted get multiple sacks and tackles for loss in their first preseason then don't get a whiff of anyone's practice squad. Could you go ahead and name/link a few?
Quote:That's a rather nebulous statement, I'm curious to know which guys after being drafted get multiple sacks and tackles for loss in their first preseason then don't get a whiff of anyone's practice squad. Could you go ahead and name/link a few?
Good plays against other terrible players don't make that player good. You new to following sports?
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The bottom line is, he is just not good enough to be an NFL player.
That might be the case, but at least now he'll have a chance to succeed as a part of America's Team instead of being simply tossed aside due to engrained bias.
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Can you at least publicly accept the possibility that it was Sam's lack of abilities and or fit within other defensive schemes that prevented him from getting a second look from the remaining 31 teams after his release, and not engrained bias? Do you know for certain that other teams didn't review film on Sam before deciding not to bring him in for a closer look because he lacked talent and didn't fit on their squad?
I'm more than pretty sure he was not the only rookie released that made a few good plays during the preseason while not getting picked up by another team. That said, I really do hope he makes the most of his league encouraged second chance (that other released rookies didn't get), and develops the ability and talent to make a final roster.
Quote:Can you at least publicly accept the possibility that it was Sam's lack of abilities and or fit within other defensive schemes that prevented him from getting a second look from the remaining 31 teams after his release, and not engrained bias? Do you know for certain that other teams didn't review film on Sam before deciding not to bring him in for a closer look because he lacked talent and didn't fit on their squad?
I'm more than pretty sure he was not the only rookie released that made a few good plays during the preseason while not getting picked up by another team. That said, I really do hope he makes the most of his league encouraged second chance (that other released rookies didn't get), and develops the ability and talent to make a final roster.
This x100. The problem is, I don't think he can. Oklahomie only sees things that fit his agenda and no other possibilities exist.
Quote:Can you at least publicly accept the possibility that it was Sam's lack of abilities and or fit within other defensive schemes that prevented him from getting a second look from the remaining 31 teams after his release, and not engrained bias? Do you know for certain that other teams didn't review film on Sam before deciding not to bring him in for a closer look because he lacked talent and didn't fit on their squad?
I'm more than pretty sure he was not the only rookie released that made a few good plays during the preseason while not getting picked up by another team. That said, I really do hope he makes the most of his league encouraged second chance (that other released rookies didn't get), and develops the ability and talent to make a final roster.
Anything is possible.
The NFL has been a notoriously homophobic league, from Richie Incognito and the goings on down in Miami to Kluwe up in Minnesota and the things that were said by coaches up there, the NFL is a league that tries to keep its bigotry secret, but every time there's a crack it's homophobia and bigotry that leaks out.
So while it's possible every team in the NFL just said "this guy can't possibly be a contributor here," it's much more likely that the majority of the league had their desire for a player like him influenced by their homophobia.
Quote:I feel bad for the kid. He deserved a shot, but he really wasn't helping himself with that reality show thing.
That sealed his fate, if he wanted to be treated normal (and he is normal), he shouldn't have tried to benefit from being normal.
He is normal.
Now headed to Dallas ... Be normal Michael, that is all. AND stay the hell away from the media that wants you treated different, you ARE NOT.
This, this, this. I couldn't agree more.
It's too bad for Michael Sam that he's on an NFL roster only because of his sexual orientation and the politically correct desires of the NFL to be all things to all people. It's impossible for him to have any credibility when the NFL had to petition teams to find someone who would sign him. Frankly, with all the bad news about Jerry Jones coming out lately, you even have to wonder if the signing isn't some kind of Quid pro Quo for leniency when the Commish has to discipline him for damaging the brand. Michael Sam just gay pawn in game of life.