Rams ‘select’ Michael Sam
NEW YORK, May 11, (RTRS): Defensive end Michael Sam of the University of Missouri became the first openly gay player to be selected in a National Football League Draft when he was taken in the seventh round by the St Louis Rams on Saturday.
Sam, the co-defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference who announced he was gay in February, would become the first openly gay player in the NFL should he make the team’s 53man regular season roster this summer.
The defensive end was taken on the 249th pick in the last round of the three-day draft at Radio City Music Hall.
Television cameras captured Sam receiving the phone call informing him of his selection, the Texan breaking into tears and shaking with joy at the news.
“Thank you to the St. Louis Rams and the whole city of St. Louis. I’m using every ounce of this to achieve greatness!!” He posted on his Twitter account.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher told the NFL Network: “I’m excited about our draft and excited about the possibility of adding him to our defensive front.
“After doing the studies, he’s a good football player,” Fisher said about the pick.
The NFL (@nfl) “Welcome to the @MikeSamFootball.”
Sam would become the second openly gay player in one of North America’s four major professional team sports following basketball’s Jason Collins, who joined the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets this season.
“I think it’s a great day for the NFL and for Michael and his family,” Collins told ESPN before taking the court for the Nets’ playoff game against the Miami Heat.
As for the significance of the day and what it means for the gay community, Collins said: “It takes more and more people just to come forward. We’re normal people and we’re just trying to make plays to make our respective teams win.”
The 6-feet-2 (1.88 m), 260pound (118 kg) Sam led the conference in sacks and in tackles for a loss, but waited until seven picks before the end of the draft to hear his name called after his stock fell following mediocre results at February’s scouting combine.
Despite his success at Missouri, talent evaluators had said Sam might struggle to fit in on the field over concerns he might be too small to play regularly on the defensive line and not athletic enough to play in space as a linebacker.
Rams coach Fisher did not think that would be an issue. tweeted:
NFL,
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who had been in a rehab center following a March arrest, was spotted by NFL Network cameras in the team’s draft room Friday night.
Clues that he was no longer in rehab emerged Thursday when he sent out a series of tweets for the first time since entering rehab. It also has been reported that he will be at the NFL owners meetings later this month.
Then, it became evident he was out when he was present in the team’s war room Friday.
Coach Chuck Pagano said Irsay’s presence “was a shot of adrenalin. He brings so much to the table and to the organization. He is the organization. He is the ‘shoe.’ To have Jim back in the building and back in the room with us today was pretty darn special.”
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Nate Burleson fractured his left arm during the team’s recent minicamp and will be out until training camp.
Burleson broke the same arm last season while with the Detroit Lions while trying to prevent a pizza from falling off the passenger seat of his car.
Running back Bryce Brown was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a conditional middle-round draft pick in 2015, clearing a logjam in the Philadelphia Eagles’ backfield.
“I was definitely surprised by it, but I think it’s a great opportunity for me to come in and be able to contribute in any way that I can,” Brown said Saturday.
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung had foot surgery and will be out of offseason workouts until he recovers, coach Pete Carroll said Friday.
Okung missed half of last season with a toe injury.